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Google Gets Consumer Service Ultimatum From German Consumer Groups

Posted by samzenpus on from the or-else dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Google received an ultimatum Thursday from German consumer organizations that want it to start answering questions from its users via email. The Federation of German Consumer Organizations (VZBV) has asked Google to sign an undertaking that it will provide customer service by responding individually to users questions sent by email, said Carola Elbrecht, VZBV's project manager for consumer rights in the digital world at the VZBV. Signing such a document would expose Google to fines if it breached the undertaking. On the other hand, said Elbrecht, 'If Google does not sign it, we're going to court.'"

2 of 351 comments (clear)

  1. Re:You know... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Sue them for breaking german law. The Telemediengesetz (German Teleservices Act) expressly demand that any service provider must provide direct contact methods.

  2. Re:You know... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Wrong. Yes the law is valid and must be complied to even if your service is free. And make no mistake, Google is a multi-billion dollar company, not some charity organisation run by goodwill. They a huge company and can afford customer care.