Consumentenbond

Many holiday homes in the Netherlands are not cleaned well, according to a study by consumers association Consumentenbond. Researchers regularly found e.coli, hair, fungus, insects, and stains on walls and mattresses while doing this study.

Consumentenbond had mystery guests visit 30 holiday parks across the Netherlands. These guests inspected the cleanliness of the rooms, also using a UV light to check for bodily fluids. Fourteen of the checked holiday parks' hygiene was not up to standard. Especially the walls in the kitchens and bathrooms showed problems.

Consumers association Consumentenbond is very critical about the freshness of shrimp sold in Dutch supermarkets Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Lidl. Jumbo's shrimp also contains more preservatives than is permitted by Dutch law, according to the association, NU.nl reports. 

Banks treat their customers with a mortgage "too often as a cash cow", Bart Combee, director of Dutch consumers assocation Consumentenbond said on Tuesday. A study by the association showed that banks often charge higher than necessary costs for adjustments to mortgages, ANP reports.

Special gluten-free products are not always a healthier alternative to regular products, consumers association Consumentenbond reports. A study done by the association revealed that gluten-free products often contain more fat, sugar and/or salt and less fiber than similar products with gluten, ANP reports.

The association compared the ingredient lists of five gluten-free A-brand products to similar products containing gluten. The results told a scary tale.

Claim organization Wakkerpolis filed a 3.2 billion euros lawsuit against insurer NN Group for unjust fees on investment insurance. This collective corporate profiteering claim is being filed on behalf of about 500 thousand NN customers and in cooperation with consumers organization Consumentenbond, ANP reports.

This collective claim follows a won lawsuit involving one file last year. In that case complaints institute Kifid ruled that NN had to reimburse the initial costs of an investment insurance because the customer was not well informed about those costs.

Dutch consumers organization Consumentenbond issued a warning about the "My Friend Cayla" doll, following research by its Norwegian counterpart. According to the Norwegian organization, anyone with a smart phone can eavesdrop on children through the doll, or even talk to them. All that is needed is a bluetooth connection to the doll.

According to consumers association Consumentenbond, the Dutch health insurers have more than 3.3 billion euros in "extra" reserves, even though they're making less profits. The association calls on the insurers to stop "hoarding unnecessarily" and "do everything to reduce the premium increases", ANP reports.

Figures from last year show that the four big insurers CZ, VGZ, Achmea and Menzis made half the profit they did in 2014. "But the four still managed to put 307 million into the reserve port in 2015", Bart Combee, director of the Consumentenbond said.

A majority of the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, supports a free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada (CETA)

Professional information and advise about health risks and vaccinations for traveling to tropical places often leaves something to be desired, according to a study by consumers association Consumentenbond. Mystery shoppers visited 20 doctors and vaccination centers and something was wrong or missing in every one of the consultations

Nearly 40 percent of Dutch fell victim to debit- or credit card fraud over the past two years, according to a survey done by consumers' association Consumentenbond. In a third of the cases, money was actually stolen

Dutch bank ABN Amro is lowering the cost of many of its consumer products by up to 60 percent, the company announced in a statement on Friday. The discount will be given to new clients, and also to existing customer accounts.