The fine of more than PLN 2.5 million imposed on Leroy Merlin by UOKiK has been upheld by the Court of Competition and Consumer Protection.

In October 2012, UOKiK fined the company for abusing consumer rights by:

  • equiring customers to sign a statement waiving any potential objections against its handling of complaints
  • issuing customers whose complaints were upheld with coupons valid for only one month, when consumer claims are valid for one year under Poland’s statute of limitations

The court stated that such practices were misleading for consumers, and that the fine imposed on Leroy Merlin was the lowest possible in such circumstances.