Consumer Rights
Consumer protection under Danish law — Købeloven, Forbrugeraftaleloven, defective goods, returns, unfair commercial practices and dispute resolution via Forbrugerklagenævnet.
Covered in this guide:
If something you bought is defective, Købeloven (the Sale of Goods Act) gives you 2 years to demand repair, replacement, a proportionate price reduction or cancellation — and defects that appear within the first year are presumed to have been present at delivery. For online and distance purchases, Forbrugeraftaleloven (the Consumer Contracts Act) gives you a 14-day right of withdrawal. Misleading advertising and unfair contract terms are prohibited under Markedsføringsloven (the Marketing Practices Act), enforced by Forbrugerombudsmanden (the Consumer Ombudsman). Unresolved disputes can be brought before Forbrugerklagenævnet (the Consumer Complaints Board).
Key Laws
Købeloven
Lovbekendtgørelse nr. 140 af 17. februar 2014
Defective goods, 2-year statutory right to claim, repair, replacement, refund
Forbrugeraftaleloven
Lov nr. 1457 af 17. december 2013
14-day right of withdrawal, distance selling, pre-contract information duty
Markedsføringsloven
Lov nr. 426 af 3. maj 2017
Unfair commercial practices, misleading advertising, enforcement by the Consumer Ombudsman
Forbrugerklageloven
Lov nr. 524 af 29. april 2015
Forbrugerklagenævnet, sector complaint boards, accessible dispute resolution
Defective Goods (Reklamationsret)
If you buy something that turns out to be defective, Danish law gives you strong protections:2-year right to claim (reklamationsret): You can complain about defects that were present at the time of...
Right of Withdrawal (Online & Distance Sales)
When you buy online, by telephone or at the door, you have a cooling-off period:14-day right of withdrawal: You can cancel the purchase without any reason within 14 days of receiving the goods (or...
Unfair Commercial Practices
Markedsføringsloven (the Marketing Practices Act) protects consumers against misleading and aggressive commercial practices:Misleading advertising: Traders may not give false or misleading...
Forbrugerklagenævnet (Consumer Complaints Board)
Forbrugerklagenævnet (the Consumer Complaints Board) is an independent, publicly recognised body that resolves consumer disputes:Jurisdiction: Disputes between consumers and traders over goods or...
Statutory Right to Claim and Commercial Guarantees
Danish law distinguishes between your statutory rights and any commercial guarantee offered by the seller or manufacturer:Statutory right to claim: Always 2 years from delivery — this is your minimum...
Digital Content and Digital Services
Since 2022, special rules protect consumers who buy digital content and digital services:Conformity: Digital content (apps, software, streaming, e-books, cloud services) must be as described, fit for...
Consumer Credit and Loans
Danish law sets strict requirements for consumer lending:Creditworthiness assessment: Lenders must assess your ability to repay before granting credit — irresponsible lending can be sanctioned.APR...
Protection Against Fraud and Scams
Danish law protects consumers against various forms of fraud:Payment card misuse: If your card is used without authorisation, your liability is limited to 375 kr. for unauthorised transactions (if...