Stronger protection for vulnerable consumers and other urgent measures

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. For the first time, the general consumer law includes the figure of the vulnerable consumer: a person who, due to personal, economic, educational or social circumstances, cannot exercise their consumer rights on equal terms. The definition is added to Article 3 and is temporary, sector-specific or territorial, not permanent.
2. Several articles of the consumer law are adapted to give special attention to these consumers: basic rights, information and education, labeling, commercial practices, information in offers and pre-contract information. In all cases, information must be clear, understandable and accessible, especially for vulnerable people.
3. The first final provision of the consolidated text itself is adjusted to declare the amended articles basic, meaning they bind the autonomous communities as state law.
4. The suspension of evictions and removals during the state of alarm is extended to economically vulnerable people with no housing alternative, including criminal proceedings where the person occupies the home without any title to live there.
5. The 2021 State Budget Law is amended: its sixth additional provision on absorbing European research funds is repealed, and port fee rebates of several port authorities are corrected so 2021 port fees can be properly settled.
6. The basic prices of the wastewater discharge control fee are set at €0.01751 per cubic meter for urban wastewater and €0.04377 for industrial wastewater, and the rule takes effect the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette.

Who it affects

• Vulnerable consumers (due to age, disability, economic situation, gender, language barriers or other circumstances): Receive reinforced protection: clear and accessible information, special attention from companies and public authorities, and policies to avoid procedures that hinder their rights.
• Businesses dealing with consumers: Must adapt their information, labeling and commercial practices to vulnerable people and respect their rights with special care.
• Economically vulnerable people with no housing alternative facing eviction: A judge may suspend their removal from the home until the end of the state of alarm.
• Port authorities and port users (Santander, Barcelona, Las Palmas, Motril and Vilagarcía): Their fee rebates for 2021 are corrected.
• Those discharging wastewater, and river basin authorities: The basic prices of the fee they pay for discharge control are set.

Words worth knowing

Texto refundido (consolidated text)

A single, organized version of a law that brings together several rules on the same subject.

Real decreto-ley (royal decree-law)

A rule with the force of law that the Government can pass urgently in cases of extraordinary need, without prior approval by Congress.

Lanzamiento (removal)

The act of physically removing a person from a home, usually after an eviction.

Canon de control de vertidos (discharge control fee)

A payment made by those discharging wastewater, used to study, monitor and protect water quality.

Bonificaciones portuarias (port rebates)

Discounts on port fees, meant to encourage certain types of traffic and services.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries