The fairness seal marks companies that voluntarily commit to our public code of fairness. It is not awarded automatically, but selectively, and only for as long as the rules are kept.
The seal shows that a company has committed in writing to the fairness rules below, accepts our review of consumer reports, and agrees that the seal can be withdrawn in the event of breaches.
The seal is not a state certification, not a TÜV mark and no guarantee that a mistake will never happen. We are an independent citizens' initiative, not an official inspection body. The seal is a company's self-commitment under our oversight.
These rules are the award criteria. A company receives the seal only if it commits to every point.
All prices are stated clearly and in full, including any mandatory costs. No hidden fees, no cost traps, no misleading crossed-out prices.
Contracts can be cancelled as easily as they are entered into. Online contracts provide an easy-to-find cancellation button (§ 312k BGB), and cancellations are confirmed promptly.
No misleading claims, no fake or bought reviews, no fake countdowns or invented scarcity. Advertising is recognisable as such.
The statutory right of withdrawal (§ 355 BGB) and warranty are granted in full and without red tape. Refunds are made promptly to the original means of payment.
A complete imprint (§ 5 DDG) with a valid postal address and a customer service that answers enquiries and complaints within a reasonable time.
Claims are asserted transparently and at a reasonable amount. No intimidation, no excessive collection fees, no pursuit of obviously unjustified claims.
Personal data is collected sparingly, explained clearly and not shared without a legal basis. Consent is voluntary and revocable.
Justified complaints are resolved fairly and promptly. The company accepts that Verbraucherschützer.org reviews consumer reports and revokes the seal in the event of repeated or serious breaches.
Code version: 1.0
A company applies, commits in writing to the code and discloses the information needed for it (among others: imprint, contract and cancellation terms, complaint handling). If everything fits, we add it to our public register and provide the verifiable seal. We charge nothing for admission.
If justified complaints accumulate or a company seriously breaches the code, we suspend or withdraw the seal. Because the seal is delivered centrally by us, it then disappears everywhere it is embedded. A withdrawn seal can no longer be displayed.
A genuine fairness seal is always clickable and leads to a page on verbraucherschuetzer.org showing this exact company and its current status. A seal that cannot be clicked and confirmed here is worthless. That is exactly what separates an honest quality mark from a painted-on one.
If you would like to commit to the code of fairness, write to us. We will explain the process and the evidence required. Admission is free of charge.
Request the sealAn awarded company is behaving unfairly? Report it to us, we follow up on every tip. Report a breach
The fairness seal is an editorial trust mark based on a self-commitment, not a state-recognised certification and no legal or safety guarantee. The code and this programme will undergo legal review before any real awards are made.