A €38,000 fine for one missing line in the terms of sale — the consumer mediator
Since 2016, any French professional selling to consumers must appoint a consumer mediator and display it — from the very first client, freelancers included.
A €38,000 fine, for one missing line in the terms of sale.
That's what one company got in late 2023.
Its fault: selling to consumers without displaying a consumer mediator (médiateur de la consommation).
It's not just big companies
Sole trader, micro-enterprise, independent, freelancer: as soon as you sell a product or service to a consumer in France, you're concerned. No threshold, no grace period. It applies from the very first client.
The obligation
Since 2016, you must appoint a consumer mediator and display it in:
- your terms of sale
- your quotes
- your website
The cost
A mediation agreement costs between €50 and €150 per year, and you're covered.
Your mediator — is it displayed anywhere?