細說德國二○○一年新民法消費契約條款

Abstract

德國定型化契約條款法Gesetz zur Regelung des Rechts der Allgemeinen Geschäfts- bedingungen，在依據歐體部長理事會一九九三年93/13/EWG關於消費契約之濫用條款準則之規定，於一九九六年及一九九八年兩度修正後，於二○○二年七月十五日經由債法現代化法廢止，其實體內容與其他消費者保護規範回歸德國民法第三○五條至第三一○條。其回歸也受到一些批判，不過整體而言，至少減少了特別法的數目，應該是正面評價多於負面，此次修正也同時調整了原本定型化契約條款法與新民法條文的衝突之處。 企業經營者應該向消費者說明商品或服務之使用方法、提供消費者充分與正確之資訊、充實消費資訊提供消費者運用。不論是德國民法或我國消保法的規定，均要求在締約前，對於訂約重要關係之事項，有資訊提供義務，讓消費者能做出正確的消費決定。德國民法對於資訊義務並無統一規定，而係散見於個別的條文、債編施行法及二○○二年德國民法資訊與證明義務細則中。

The German Standard Contract Terms Act (Gesetz zur Regelung des Rechts der Allgemeinen Geschäfts- bedingungen) was amended in 1996 and 1998 according to the Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts, and was replaced by the Law of Obligations Reform Act on 15 July 2002. The substantial provisions thereof and other regulations related to consumer protection are replaced by Article 305 to 310 of the German Civil Code. This replacement gave rise to some criticism. However, as a whole, the replacement reduces the number of special regulations and thus this positive effect more than compensates for the negative ones. The replacement also resolves the conflict between the replaced German Standard Contract Terms Act and the New German Civil Code. Business operators may explain to consumers the methods of use for the goods or services which they sold or provided, provide consumers with adequate and accurate information, and furnish consumers with the necessary information to exercise their interests. It is stipulated in both the German Civil Code and the Taiwan Consumer Protection Law that, before entering into contracts with consumers, business operators are obligated to provide any and all information which is essential to the execution of contracts so that the consumers can make appropriate decisions. There is no general provision regarding such information in the German Civil Code but individual provisions are stipulated separately in the German Civil Code, the Enforcement Rule of Law of Obligations, and the sections related to obligations of information and burden of proof under the German Civil Code of 2002.