Obligation to Provide Information by the Information Society Service Provider

In addition to the obligations under the Consumer Protection Act, the information society service provider is subject to separate information obligations, please see [Advance Information to Consumers]. An information society service is any service provided normally for remuneration, at a distance, by electronic means and at the individual request of a recipient of services. An example of an information society service is a mobile application or a social media service.   

General obligation to provide information 

In addition to other obligations to provide information, the information society service provider must keep at least the following information easily, immediately and continuously available to recipients and public authorities: 

1.      the name of the service provider, the geographic address at which the service provider is established, the details of the service provider, including his electronic mail address, which allow him to be contacted rapidly and communicated with in a direct and effective manner 

2.      where the service provider is registered in a trade or similar public register, the trade register in which the service provider is entered and his registration number, or equivalent means of identification in that register; 

3.      where the activity is subject to an authorization scheme, the particulars of the relevant supervisory authority; 

4.      where the service provider undertakes an activity that is subject to VAT, the identification number. 

Where information on the price of goods or services is provided in the context of the provision of an information society service, it must be given in a clear and precise manner. The information shall specify whether tax and delivery charges are included in the price. As regards the indication of the price of a consumer good, see [Online shops in particular]. 

In addition to the above, when providing an information society service, a provider of a regulated profession must keep the following information available: 

1.      any professional body or similar institution with which the service provider is registered 

2.      the professional title and the Member State where it has been granted; 

3.      a reference to the applicable professional rules in the Member State of establishment and the means to access them. 

Obligation to provide information when placing an order 

In addition to other information requirements established by Finnish law, the information society service provider must, ensure that at least the following information is given by the service provider clearly, comprehensibly and unambiguously and prior to the order being placed by the recipient of the service: 

1.      the different technical steps to follow to conclude the contract; 

2.      whether or not the concluded contract will be filed by the service provider and whether it will be accessible; 

3.      the technical means for identifying and correcting input errors prior to the placing of the order; 

4.      the languages offered for the conclusion of the contract  

5.      any relevant codes of conduct to which he subscribes and information on how those codes can be consulted electronically. 

The above does not apply to contracts concluded exclusively by e-mail or similar personal means of communication. The parties to the contract may derogate from the above provisions, except when a consumer is a party to the contract. 

Providing contract terms and conditions 

Contract terms and general conditions provided to the recipient must be made available in a way that allows him to store and reproduce them. 

Placing the order and acknowledgement of receipt 

In cases where the recipient of the service places his order through technological means, the service provider must acknowledge the receipt of the recipient's order without undue delay and by electronic means except in cases where contracts are concluded exclusively by exchange of electronic mail or by equivalent individual communications. 

The service provider must make available to the recipient of the service appropriate, effective and accessible technical means allowing him to identify and correct input errors, prior to the placing of the order. 

The above does not apply to contracts concluded exclusively by e-mail or similar personal means of communication. The parties to the contract may derogate from the above provisions, except when a consumer is a party to the contract. 

Date of reception

A subscription to an information society service and an acknowledgement of receipt are deemed to have been received when they are available to the party to whom they are addressed.