Some products purchased online can no longer be returned.

The President of the Consumers Union, Mahmut Şahin, stated that the right of withdrawal has been removed for products such as smartwatches, mobile phones, tablets, computers, and motorcycles with the regulation that came into effect on January 1. Şahin expressed that this regulation is against consumers, saying, "Consumers have had rights in distance sales for a long time. The right to return a product without giving a reason within 15 days. A regulation change was made 1.5 years ago without consulting us and without looking at the practices in the public. It was stated that 'the right of withdrawal has been removed for products such as smartwatches, mobile phones, tablets, computers, and motorcycles.' This means 'If you have purchased it, you will not be able to use that 15-day right of withdrawal.'"

ADDITIONAL BURDENS ON CONSUMERS

Şahin stated that in case of a return, the consumer will have to pay the shipping costs themselves, saying, "If a citizen receives a product that does not meet their expectations or does not like it, they used to return it, and the shipping was paid by the other party. That was how the regulation was. This is the right of distance sales. In the West, there are more advanced rights in this regard. Now, with the regulation change, they say, 'If the consumer is going to send it back, they will have to pay the shipping cost themselves.' A burden is being placed on the consumer," he said.

A LAWSUIT WAS FILED BUT NO RESULTS WERE OBTAINED

Şahin stated that they filed a lawsuit for the annulment of the regulation change, saying, "1.5 years ago, we filed a lawsuit requesting the suspension of this regulation. However, we have entered 2025, and no decision has been made yet. Let's say the decision will be made in 3-5 months, and maybe it will be annulled. How will the damages incurred during this period be compensated? We would expect the judiciary to take this sensitivity into account," he expressed.

"YOU ORDERED A PHONE, A TOY PHONE ARRIVED"

Şahin emphasized that the difficult part has been left to the citizens, stating, "The right to return these products is completely removed. You will not be able to return them. You ordered a phone, and a toy phone arrived. There is no return for this. Not only will you be embarrassed with your money, but you will also have to file a lawsuit and wait for 3-5 years. We insisted that this should not happen, but a decision has still not been made. Here, sellers and those with fraudulent intentions are being protected," he said.

REACTION TO THE WRONG REGULATION CHANGE

Şahin stated that this situation puts consumers in a difficult position, saying, "Who will go to court and wait for years? And on top of that, incur expenses. If the other party has prepared a cover for this, you will have to pay both the money and the lawyer's fees. This was a very wrong regulation change. We expressed our reaction to this."