Buying goods and services in Denmark
The Sale of Goods Act
When you buy a product in Denmark, you have a number of rights.
- You always have two years’ warranty. This means that you have the right to complain to the place of purchase concerning faults or defects in the product for two years.
- You do not automatically have the right to cancel your purchase when you buy a product in a shop. You can only have the item exchanged, or get your money back, if the shop offers this.
- If the item has a fault or defect, you have the right to have it repaired or exchanged for a new one. In some cases you can get your money back, or a discount on the price.
- The store may only attempt to repair or replace your item a few times – typically once or twice. After that, you are entitled to get your money back.
The relevant consumer rights are stated in the Danish Sale of Goods Act. A guide to to the law is available on the website of the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority.
Consumer organisations
If you want to know more about your rights as a consumer in Denmark, you can contact the the Danish Consumer Council. They can also guide you on your rights of complaint. If you have questions about cross-border trade in the EU and the EEA, you can contact European Consumer Centre Denmark.
If you live in Denmark, over the age of 18 and possess a device that can receive and reproduce visual programmes or services, you must pay the media licence. Devices subject to licence requirements include:
- Television sets
- Computers with internet access
- Mobile phones with internet access
- Tablets or the like with internet access
If you do not have one of the above devices, but only a radio, for example, you do not have to pay a media licence. One licence is paid per household, and all devices in the household are covered by the licence. You must apply for a licence no later than 14 days after acquiring a device that is subject to the licence requirements. You can read more at dr.dk.
All TV signals in Denmark have been digital since 1 November 2009. This means that if your TV set cannot receive digital signals, you will have to buy a digital receiver if you want to watch TV in Denmark.
You must be registered with the National Register in Denmark if you want to create a mobile phone subscription.
If you wish to have a Danish mobile phone number without being registered with the National Register, you can avail yourself of pre-paid phone cards, which can be purchased in kiosks and at petrol stations.
You are not required to be registered with the National Register in Denmark in order to become a customer of, for example, HOFOR, which provides electricity, gas, water and heating in the capital area.
Anyone who lives in Denmark can therefore receive electricity, gas, water and heating.
Many oil companies issue special credit cards (petrol cards) that you can use when buying petrol, services and products at petrol stations.
You must be registered with the National Register in Denmark to obtain a Danish petrol card.
However, with several multinational companies it is possible to use a card that has been issued abroad. If you want to know whether your card can be used in Denmark, contact the company that issued the card.
If you have any questions, please fill in our contact form.
NB! If you have questions regarding the processing of a specific case or application, or other personal matters, please contact the relevant authority directly.
