TV and streaming provider Canal+ Austria must refund an activation fee charged to customers, following legal action by the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK).The company, formerly known as HD Austria, reached a settlement with the consumer rights group and agreed to stop using a number of disputed contract clauses.The central issue concerns a €29.90 activation fee that customers were required to pay when signing up for a subscription. According to the AK, this fee and several other contractual conditions violated consumer protection laws. After initiating legal proceedings, the AK secured a commitment from Canal+ to refund the fee to affected customers upon request.Customers who paid the activation fee and have not yet received a refund will be contacted by Canal+ with details on how to reclaim the amount. Those who do not receive a notification can apply directly via the Canal+ website or use a standardised template letter provided by the AK.“The clause demanding an activation fee was unlawful. This is a success for consumer protection and a reminder to all providers to respect fair contract terms,” the AK said in a statement. The chamber added that Canal+ also agreed not to use a number of additional clauses in its contracts going forward.The case stems from an AK review of Canal+ Austria’s general terms and conditions, which led to the filing of a lawsuit. The consumer body regularly monitors service providers for compliance with Austrian consumer rights legislation, and this action was part of its broader mission to enforce legal standards in digital markets.Canal+ Austria is a joint venture, owned equally by the international Canal+ Group and Austrian telecommunications operator A1 Telekom Austria. The platform offers both satellite and streaming services and has been active under the Canal+ brand since the rebranding of HD Austria.The AK has published further information and a sample letter on its website for those affected who wish to claim the refund.
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