§ 15. When the communication channel has limited space
If the purchase takes place through a channel with limited space, for example SMS or a small device, the seller must at least tell you the main characteristics of the goods, the seller's identity, the total price, that there is a right of withdrawal (angrerett), and how long the contract lasts. The rest of the information must be given afterwards in a suitable way.
Machine-translated from Norwegian. The Norwegian text is the one that applies. Read the original in Norwegian.Norsk English العربية Polski Українська
The text of the law (unofficial translation)
Where a contract is concluded through a means of distance communication which allows limited space or time to display information, the trader (næringsdrivende) shall provide the information under § 8 first paragraph letters a, d, e, h first sentence and n before the contract is concluded.
The other information in § 8 first paragraph shall be provided in a way that is adapted to the means of distance communication, cf. § 14.
What does this mean?
§ 15 is a practical rule for purchases made through channels where there is simply no room for all the information required by § 8. Examples are purchases by SMS, purchases through an interface with only a few characters, or through voice assistants.
In these cases, the seller must at least tell you five things before the contract is concluded:
- a) The main characteristics of the goods. What exactly are you buying?
- d) The seller's identity. Name and contact details.
- e) The total price. Including any mandatory fees.
- h first sentence) That there is a right of withdrawal. The fact that the right of withdrawal exists. You do not need all the details in the channel itself, but you must know that it exists.
- n) The duration of the contract and the minimum contract period (bindingstid). Especially important for subscriptions (abonnement).
The rest of the information, such as the full withdrawal terms, return costs (returkostnader), complaint schemes and so on, must be given "in a way that is adapted" to the channel, under the usual rules in § 14. In practice this means either a link to more information, or a confirmation email afterwards (under § 18).
So § 15 is not a free pass for sellers. They must still fulfil the whole duty to provide information (opplysningsplikt) in § 8, but they are allowed to spread it out.
Examples
Marius buys a parking service by sending an SMS with a code and his car registration number. The service confirms the parking with an SMS back. The seller does not have room for all the information in § 8 in an SMS. Under § 15 they must at least tell him what the service is (parking), the seller's name, the price, that there is a right of withdrawal, and the duration. The rest is made available on the company's website and in a confirmation email.
Ingrid buys an app from the App Store on her Apple Watch. Little information is shown on the screen itself, just the app's name, the price and a "Buy" button. The Apple Watch is a classic example of limited display space. Under § 15 the minimum information before the purchase is enough, but the full information must be available on her iPhone or by email afterwards.
Common mistakes
- Sellers use "limited space" as an excuse on an ordinary website. A full website does not have "limited space". The rule applies to real space limitations, not to a choice to make a short order page.
- You think that because the information was not in the SMS, the seller has no responsibility. That is not the case. The rest of the information must be given in another way, typically in a confirmation by email.
What should you do?
When buying via SMS, a watch or other small channels:
- Check that the minimum information is there: what, who, price, right of withdrawal, duration
- Expect a full confirmation by email afterwards
- If you do not get it, complain. It is a breach of the duty to provide information