§ 9. You do not have to pay hidden costs
If the seller did not inform you about additional costs (tilleggskostnader) such as shipping or other costs before you made the purchase, you do not have to pay them. This also applies to return costs (returkostnader). The seller loses the right to this money because they breached the duty to provide information (opplysningsplikt).
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)
If the trader (næringsdrivende) has not provided information about additional costs or other costs as referred to in § 8 first paragraph letters e and i, the consumer (forbruker) shall not bear these costs.
What does this mean?
§ 9 is a strict consequence of breaching § 8. If the seller should have told you about a cost — but did not — you do not have to pay it.
The rule applies to two types of costs:
1. Additional costs on top of the price (§ 8 letter e). These are typically shipping, handling, payment fees, environmental fees and similar. If the seller did not inform you about these before the purchase, they fall away.
2. Return costs (§ 8 letter i). If you change your mind and have to send the item back, the main rule is that you pay the shipping. But if the seller did not say so in advance, the seller must cover it.
This is one of several "sanctions" the law has to make sure sellers actually give you the correct information. It is not enough to hide the costs in the terms and conditions — they must be communicated clearly before the purchase.
Examples
Anne buys a chair online for NOK 2,400. The price is clearly shown on the page. She goes to checkout, fills in her address and clicks "complete purchase". Only in the confirmation email does she see that NOK 250 has been added for shipping. The seller should have informed her about this before the purchase, not after. Under § 9, Anne does not have to pay the shipping cost. She demands that the NOK 250 be refunded — and she is on solid ground.
Tom buys a coffee machine online for NOK 4,500 and after two days decides to withdraw from the purchase. He sees in the confirmation email that the seller never mentioned that he would have to pay the return shipping himself. Under § 8 letter i, the seller must provide this information in advance. Since they did not, the return cost falls away. Tom can return the machine at the seller's expense, or have the shipping costs refunded.
Common mistakes
- You think "it was in the terms and conditions" is enough. It rarely is. Costs must be disclosed clearly and before the purchase — not hidden several clauses down in a long text of terms.
- You pay the cost without asking. Many consumers pay hidden costs just to avoid conflict. If the seller breached § 8, you are entitled to get the money back.
- You think this applies to all unexpected costs. It applies specifically to additional costs (letter e) and return costs (letter i). Other breaches of the duty to provide information have their own consequences — for example an extended withdrawal period (angrefrist) under § 21.
What should you do?
When you discover a cost that was not mentioned, gather documentation: the confirmation email, screenshots of the shopping cart, the invoice. Send an email to the seller referring to § 8 and § 9, and demand a refund (tilbakebetaling). If the seller does not cooperate, complain to the Norwegian Consumer Council (Forbrukerrådet).
Frequently asked questions
What if the seller says that "shipping is normal"?
Does this also apply to payment fees or a "service charge"?
- § 8The seller's duty to provide information before the purchase
- § 7The seller has the burden of proof (bevisbyrde)
- § 25The consumer's obligations when returning goods