Scott+Scott on behalf of Stitching Consumenten Competition Claims files collective action against six major energy suppliers in the Netherlands
Scott+Scott on behalf of Dutch foundation -Stichting Consumenten Competition Claims Foundation (CCC) – launches a collective action against six major energy suppliers in the Netherlands. The action is brought on behalf of Dutch consumers with variable energy contracts on an opt-out basis.
CCC seeks compensation for Dutch consumers who were unjustly subjected to rate increases during the term of their variable energy contracts. In March, the Court of Appeal in Amsterdam ruled in a case against energy supplier Vattenfall that the so-called modification clause in its general terms and conditions was unfair and in violation of the law. As a result, the interim rate increases that the company charged customers were deemed invalid. The ruling affects all consumers with variable contracts, since all major energy suppliers in the Netherlands use the same standard terms. Consequently, millions of consumers have overpaid for years.
The action is support by the Consumers’ Association (Consumentenbond) and the Homeowners’Association (Verening Eigen Huis). These interest groups opened a registration portal earlier this year. To date more than 200.000 consumers registered to seek compensation.