For example, if you enter “buy a vignette online” in an online search, the first link leads to the “digital vignette online.at” page. On this page, which only turns out to be a Cologne-based company when you look at the imprint, the motorway vignette can be ordered – but at a higher price. Because while the year-round vignette costs 93 euros on the website of the local road maintenance company Asfinag, you have to shell out 108.80 euros for it on the German website. The consumer only finds out what the surcharge (“service fee”) is for when he wants to make use of his right of withdrawal: In contrast to Asfinag (waiting time 18 days), the vignette is valid immediately for this purchase. And since the service has already been consumed, a resignation is only possible with financial deductions, it says in the reply.
“It’s a pure rip-off,” says Gernot Fieber from AK consumer protection, who knows the problem. “If I use the service immediately, I lose my right of withdrawal.” He advises those affected to first check the validity of the vignette on the Asfinag website and then to raise an objection. “So you can get at least half of the surcharge back.” (never)
Source: Nachrichten
