The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has taken action against Eerlijke WOZ, a company that assists consumers in filing objections against property value assessments, known as WOZ values. Following consumer complaints, ACM found that the company's website did not clearly communicate the authorization process and associated costs.

Consumers reported that they inadvertently granted Eerlijke WOZ authorization to act on their behalf after using an eligibility checker on the website. The lack of clarity between the eligibility results and the authorization process led to confusion. In response, Eerlijke WOZ has updated its website to ensure that consumers are fully informed about granting authorization for filing objections.

Additionally, the website's information regarding legal fees was deemed insufficient. Previously, municipalities reimbursed legal fees directly to Eerlijke WOZ if the objection was successful. However, recent legal changes now require municipalities to pay reimbursements directly to consumers, who must then transfer the amount to the agency. Consumers must explicitly agree to this arrangement before proceeding.

As WOZ assessments are being sent out again, ACM is reminding homeowners of their rights and the rules that WOZ agencies must follow. Homeowners can file objections themselves at no cost and should be cautious when choosing to hire an agency. ACM encourages consumers to report any issues they encounter to its consumer information portal, ConsuWijzer.