Content of the information requirements
Caution
In general, these rules also apply to entrepreneurs from EU Member States in Austria.
Before a consumer from Austria is bound by a contract or by his or her declaration of acceptance of a contract, the trader must provide, inter alia, the following information:
- The consumer must be informed of the main characteristics of the goods or services.
- The consumer must be informed of the name or company name and address of the business establishment (identity).
- The consumer must be informed of the trader’s contact details (telephone number, fax number, email address).
- The consumer must be informed of the total price of the goods or services, including all taxes and duties. The freight, delivery or postal charges must also be specified, if applicable. If it is not possible to calculate these costs in advance, the consumer must be informed of the manner in which the price is to be calculated.
- In the case of contracts of indeterminate duration or subscription contracts, the consumer must be informed of the total costs or the costs per month. If it is not possible to calculate these costs in advance, the consumer must be informed of the manner in which the price is to be calculated.
- The arrangements for payment, delivery and performance and the delivery period must be specified. If a procedure for complaints is in place, information regarding that procedure must also be provided.
- Where a right of withdrawal exists, the conditions, time-limits and procedure for exercising that right must be specified, and the model withdrawal form | Part B (→ RIS)German text must be provided. The information can also be provided to the consumer by means of the model instructions on withdrawal | Part A (→ RIS)German text.
- Where applicable, the consumer must be informed of his/her obligation to bear the costs of returning the goods in the event of his/her withdrawal from the sales contract. In the case of contracts for goods which are concluded on the internet, for example, but are not usually sent by post due to their nature, the trader must inform the consumer of the amount of the return costs. The information can also be provided to the consumer by means of the model instructions on withdrawal | Part A (→ RIS)German text.
- Where applicable, the consumer must be informed of the absence of a right of withdrawal or the circumstances in which he/she loses his/her right of withdrawal.
- Where applicable, if the consumer has expressly asked that a service which he/she has ordered be commenced within the withdrawal period, he/she must be informed that he/she will have to pay a proportionate fee for the service already provided in the event of withdrawal.
- The consumer must be informed of the existence of a legal guarantee of conformity for goods. However, it is not necessary for the guarantee of conformity existing by law to be described in detail. This means that the individual warranty remedies (replacement, improvement, price reduction, rescission) need not be listed.
- Where applicable, the consumer must be informed of the possibility of having recourse to an out-of-court complaint and redress mechanism.
- Where applicable, the consumer must be informed of the functionality of digital content, including the interoperability of digital content with hardware and software.
- In the case of contracts of indeterminate duration or contracts to be extended automatically the consumer must be informed of the duration of the contract or the conditions for terminating contracts of indeterminate duration.
Legal basis
Fern- und Auswärtsgeschäfte-Gesetz (FAGG)
Translated by the European Commission
Last update: 3 July 2023
Responsible for the content: Federal Ministry of Justice