My troubles with UFC Que Choisir

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Eny Posted messages 18 Status Membre -  
 Chrystolle -
UFC What to Choose ... Or how to get "scammed" by a consumer protection association! (What a twist!)

In the midst of procedures for 2 disputes (Free and bank contract), I decided to inquire with the UFC Que Choisir association in Grenoble to see if there were any other actions to take to settle my disputes amicably and to find out if the association "supported" consumers in their legal steps, should it become necessary.

Upon arriving at the association, the person in charge of consumer reception informed me that one must be a member in order to consult a lawyer and benefit from the association's assistance, which I completely understand.
However, I asked to present my disputes to the lawyers before having to pay the membership fee, to see if the association could provide me with additional information to move forward with my efforts, already contradicting what the reception person had announced:
- Pay first, regardless of the final outcome.
- Pay later, only if the association can assist the consumer.

The reception person then said to me:
- "Listen, here's what we're going to do. You write your check, you go see the
lawyers, and if the association can help you, you become a member; otherwise, I'll return your
check."

A statement as clear and precise as can be!
So I wrote my check and entered an office with the lawyers.

For my first issue, after all the steps I had already taken before going to the association, only legal proceedings remained to move things forward. At this point, the lawyer informed me that UFC could not intervene (that's the law!) and that the legal proceeding could only be initiated by the consumer himself.
The case of the first issue is settled: the association can do nothing to help me. Initiation of a legal proceeding in progress ...

Very quick interruption of the meeting! Someone from the association enters the office and addresses me:
- "Here is your membership card, since you are now a member of the association, and the magazine consom'agir, which is published once a quarter."
(At that moment, I thought: "this isn't good ...")
Before I could even open my mouth, the person was already gone ...
Resume of the meeting

For my second issue, I first clearly explained in detail all aspects of the case, and I also knew that there was no legal procedure possible. The lawyer then informed me that there were 2 solutions to my problem:
- The first, which I had already started doing some time ago.
- The second, which I had also done that same day, less than 4 hours after leaving an appointment before coming to the association. (It's a coincidence, but it comes at the right time!)
Result: the lawyer confirmed that I had taken the right steps (Thank you, I’m glad to hear that!) but there was nothing else to be done.
I just had to choose the solution that best suited my expectations.
So I packed my things and looked more closely at everything that had been said at home.

Conclusion of my visit to the consumer protection association:
No additional information to allow me to move forward in the steps I had already taken.
I therefore returned to the association the next day to explain that I did not agree to pay the membership fee I had paid since the association could not in any way provide me with additional help or support, and I made sure to remind them of what the reception person (who was not present that day) had told me the day before, namely that my check would be returned if the association could not help me!!!
Obviously, I was told that once a meeting with a lawyer had taken place, or once a membership fee had been paid, it could not be refunded. I was also informed that the reception person should not have told me that my check would be returned, as that was not practiced. It was an error on their part.
(Again, I’m very glad to hear that: it’s their error that has now cost me €30)

A consumer protection association that does not hesitate, depending on who you encounter, to "scam" its own members whenever it gets the chance. Isn't this unacceptable?!!!

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Eny Posted messages 18 Status Membre 63
 
The goal was simply to warn consumers to pay attention to what they are being told, because even within a consumer advocacy organization, one can be misinformed!

In the end, it's still the consumer who pays... And in my case, I paid a membership fee that brought me absolutely nothing. It may be "only" 30 Euros (and for some people, that's not nothing!!), but when a consumer has a dispute and has already lost quite a bit of money, that is no reason to make them lose even more by paying a fee that brings them nothing.
100
toche
 
Hello
I too have been misled by UFC from another department...

I propose that all the individuals disappointed by these associations, which only get involved if they wish for a good publicity stunt (!!) and forget that there is joint representation in court (!!), testify to INC (60 million consumers): https://www.inc-conso.fr/

UFC presents itself as follows (excerpt): "Legal action
Access to justice is a right for all citizens. The local support provided by local UFC-Que Choisir associations to their members can extend to legal action. This right has been exercised by UFC-Que Choisir since 1976 before all jurisdictions, criminal, civil, or administrative."
So why, when it comes to consumer law problems, are they so sluggish? => it would be a question of false advertising for a standard supplier!!!
The response I received from Paris is that these are volunteers who handle the cases and that membership does not grant any rights or "services". So why don’t they simply say it before one becomes a member? In other words, volunteers: there is nothing to expect, so move along.

From time to time, a "publicity stunt" operation through a legal action to polish their image! And soon after, they quickly forget the decision rendered! At the same time, recurring problems shouldn’t be resolved too easily. Otherwise, how could they justify the need for the association and collect subsidies (our taxes)? How could they collect membership fees?

As for me, I regret having got to know them, and knowing many people with consumer disputes, I will know whom not to recommend!
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