Consumer Rights: How Israelis Can Claim Hundreds in Compensation

Many Israeli companies allegedly rely on consumers' lack of awareness regarding their rights, but a recent exposé on the Instagram page 'trendz' has highlighted several consumer protection laws that could entitle individuals to compensation. These regulations aim to prevent consumers from being taken advantage of.

One key regulation, often referred to as the "Technician Law," stipulates that if a technician or delivery person arrives more than two hours late, customers are entitled to NIS 300 in compensation. If the delay exceeds three hours, the compensation increases to NIS 600. To claim this, consumers are advised to search online for "Technician Law Israeli Consumer Council" and fill out the relevant form.

Another provision addresses long wait times on customer service lines. For phone companies, water providers, or internet services, if a customer waits over six minutes for a human representative, the company must offer to call back. Failure to do so grants the customer the right to seek compensation.

Regarding subscription cancellations, such as for gyms, newspapers, or communication companies, businesses are legally obligated to terminate the service within three business days of the request. If a company continues to charge a customer after a cancellation request, they may be liable for up to NIS 10,000 in damages awarded by a court.

Additionally, consumers can opt for a "basic track" at their bank, costing approximately NIS 10 per month. This plan eliminates separate fees for minor account transactions and can save individuals hundreds of shekels annually. Finally, for online purchases, customers have a 14-day window from receiving the product to cancel the transaction. The maximum cancellation fee a business can charge is 5% of the transaction value or NIS 100, whichever is less.