European Consumer Centres Network TOURISM IN DENMARK

European Consumer Centres Network TOURISM IN DENMARK

European Consumer Centres
Network
TOURISM IN DENMARK
This brochure will provide you with information on
tourism in Denmark. You will find practical advice and
important legal information covering the different topics.
We have tried to include all the relevant information
concerning travelling to Denmark and your stay in
Denmark, however the information provided is not fully
detailed on all points and should be viewed as a guide
not as a verbatim statement of the law.
Arrival
Border controls: Nationals of the European Union
♦ According to the Schengen Agreement, entry into Denmark is open
to all nationals of the EU. However, if security measures become
necessary, the temporary re-establishment of border controls or
controls at highway toll stations may be introduced.
♦ Nationals of another EU member state do not need a visa to enter
Danish territory. A valid national identity card or your valid national
passport is enough. The ID card must establish your citizenship, thus a
driver’s licence may not be sufficient. Contact your local police station
to find out what types of identification are valid for travelling within the
Schengen Agreement countries.
♦ It is important always to have your ID card or passport with you in
case the police ask to inspect it. If you do not have one, you can be
arrested with a view to verifying your identity. It is also important at
some airports, as airlines will insist on seeing your ID or passport.
EU citizens outside the Schengen Agreement
♦ For EU citizens from countries outside the Schengen Agreement (the
Schengen countries are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland,
Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands,
Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden): If you have a visa for a brief stay
(maximum 3 months) in a Schengen country, that visa will be valid in
all Schengen countries.
♦ Foreigners living in a Schengen Agreement country and holding a
valid “title of stay” are exempt from the visa requirement as long as
they stay no longer than 3 months.
Customs regulations
♦ Purchases made during a trip within the EU and for your personal
use do not require you to make any customs declaration when arriving
in Denmark. No additional duty or tax will be charged on goods bought
with duty and tax paid (e.g. in shops, supermarkets, etc.) in another EU
member state provided the goods are for your personal use.
♦ If your purchases are equivalent to or less than the quantities
shown below, they will generally be considered for personal use. If you
exceed these quantities, you may be required to prove that the goods
are for your personal use.
-
Tobacco: You may only import 4 cartons of cigarettes (800 cigarettes or
1 kg of tobacco). Be aware, however, that the quantities of cigarettes
you may import from the new member states, that is Hungary, Latvia,
Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic,
are lower. Please contact the Danish customs office to find out the exact
quantities that are permitted.
-
Alcohol: The quantity permitted depends on the nature of the imported
product.
-
Hard liquor (more that 22% alcohol and beverages with added alcohol):
10 litres
-
Fortified wine (e.g. Vermouth, Port, sherry, etc.): 20 litres
-
Wine: 90 litres; including within this quantity, not more than 60 litres of
sparkling wine
-
Beer: 110 litres
♦ Any money or valuables you bring in which exceed the value of EUR
15,000 must be declared to customs. This declaration should be
volunteered by you at the customs control point and may be verified.
♦ If you are planning to bring in goods subject to formal legal
agreements (such as ivory, animals or products protected by the
Washington Agreement) you should first contact the administrative
department of health or customs in Denmark. SKAT’s service phone:
+45 7222 1818 (Danish Tax Administration).
♦ If you purchase jewellery during your stay in Denmark, you may
need to make a customs declaration when returning to your country of
residence.
♦ For further information, please contact your national customs
authorities.
♦ Medicines: For medicines which do not contain euphoriants (e.g.
medicine for asthma, arthritis, heart conditions, infections, etc.), the
quantity you may bring in should correspond to the course of
treatment, or 3 months at the most. If there is a check, you may be
asked to show your prescription, so you should bring it with you.
For medicines which contain euphoriants and which affect your central
nervous system, the quantity you may bring in should correspond to
personal usage. You also need to possess a medical certificate
confirming the necessity for, and the quantity of, these medicines.
For more details, you can consult the website of the Danish Medicines
Agency http://www.dkma.dk/1024/visUKLSArtikel.asp?artikelID=9012
Shopping in Denmark
Opening hours
♦ Shops – general opening hours: Monday-Friday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.,
Saturday: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Larger supermarkets are open: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
or sometimes 10 p.m. in the centre of Copenhagen. Major department
stores are open: Monday-Friday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday: 10 a.m.-5
p.m. Shops are usually closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.
♦ Banks – general opening hours: Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.,
Thursday until 6 p.m. All banks are closed Saturdays and Sundays.
♦ Post office – opening hours: Monday-Friday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Post offices are closed on Sundays.
VAT
In Denmark you pay 25% tax on all services and new goods – including
medicine, food and cultural experiences. If you live outside of the EU,
you should ask shops to complete a tax refund form for each purchase.
The tax is always included in the price.
Means of payment
♦ In Denmark, credit cards are quite common, and you can pay with
them in almost all shops and restaurants. However, smaller grocery
stores, news stands and kiosks might not accept credit cards. Usually
there is a sign at the entrance listing which credit cards the shop
accepts.
Shopper’s rights
♦ If you encounter a problem concerning a purchase you made in a
shop in Denmark, Danish law will generally apply. If there is a
problem, there are several remedies.
♦ There is no statutory right of return when you purchase something
in a shop. However, some shops will make goodwill gestures and give
additional remedies: e.g. “If you are not satisfied, you can return the
items and be reimbursed”. The vendor decides the terms of these
remedies. The vendor does not necessarily have to give you your
money back, but can give you a credit note instead.
♦ If the product has a defect which could not have been noticed at the
time of the purchase, Danish law protects the buyer (Danish Sales of
Goods Act, art. 78). The defect must have existed prior to the sale, and
must render the product unfit for the use for which it is intended.
Repair, replacement or a reduction of the price can be obtained, as well
as cancellation if the defect is significant.
♦ The consumer can choose between repair and a substitute good,
but the vendor can decline a proposed remedy if it is impossible or not
proportionate.
♦ If the vendor offers repair or replacement, the consumer cannot
demand reduction of the price or cancellation.
♦ Any remedy must be carried out within a reasonable period of time,
and must be free of charge.
♦ The consumer must complain to the vendor within a reasonable
period of time and no later than 2 years after delivery. A complaint
made within the first 2 months is always within a reasonable period of
time. For complaints made within the first 6 months, it is assumed that
the defect was there at the time of delivery. After this period of time,
the consumer must prove that the defect was there at the time of
delivery.
♦ If the product causes damage because it is defective (Danish
Product Liability Act): the vendor is responsible for damage caused by a
defect in its goods, regardless of whether the damage was caused to
the buyer or to a third person. In the case of damage due to a
defective product, the consumer has the right to obtain repairs for any
damage suffered.
♦ In the shop, the distinction between reduced and non-reduced items
must be clearly visible to the consumer. If this is not the case, it
constitutes misleading advertising. However, a general indication is
enough if the discount or the new price is the same for all the goods,
for instance, a 10% discount on all the items on a certain shelf.
♦ The following pricing details should appear clearly on the label:
-
Previous price should be crossed out
-
New price
-
Total amount of the discount
-
When comparing the previous and current prices to indicate the
consumer’s savings, the vendor must only use the price that
was valid immediately before the sale, and which had been
valid for an extended period of time.
Sales: Tips when you go “bargain hunting” …
♦ The summer sales in Denmark start in June and last until the end of
August. Winter sales are in February. Some shops start winter sales on
27 December.
♦ Limiting the legal guarantee on items sold during “sales” is subject
to very strict conditions. Vendors are still required to respect specific
legal regulations during sales. The customer has the same rights as
usual concerning manufacturing defects and after-sales service. This
means that the vendor is obliged to exchange or to reimburse an item
that has a defect which could not be seen when the product was
purchased.
♦ The
vendor cannot make general reservations and renounce your
right of complaint, but may take exceptions for specific defects on
specific goods. It is up to the vendor to decide whether to offer the
consumer right of return or exchange.
♦ If you purchase defective goods without being alerted to the fact,
your rights to after-sales service still apply. If the item has not been
marked as second quality, you are entitled to have it exchanged for a
first-grade item.
Smoking and alcohol
♦ In more and more restaurants it is not permitted to smoke, though
some may have a smoking section. The restaurants must display their
smoking policy at the entrance. It is prohibited to smoke in public
buildings, and as of 15 August 2007 it will be prohibited to smoke in
cafés, restaurants, etc. where food is prepared and served, unless
there are separate smoking rooms.
♦ In Denmark it is not legal for persons under the age of 15 to
purchase alcohol in stores. Anyone can be asked for their ID when
purchasing alcohol.
Taxis
♦
You can find taxis at taxi ranks (indicated by a square sign saying
“Taxi” in white on a blue background), or hail one in the street
(provided that it is available: the sign “FRI” in the windscreen is turned
on or a white light can be seen on the roof). At Copenhagen Airport
you will find taxis outside Terminals 1 and 3.
The fares are regulated in Denmark according to the city you are
travelling in, the time of day and the distance. The price is calculated
by taximeter, which must be turned on at the beginning of the ride and
turned off upon arrival at the destination. There is an initial fee which
varies depending on the time of day and whether the taxi has been
pre-ordered by phone or hailed in the street. The driver may charge
extra for carrying luggage, prams and bikes.
The driver must be able to provide you with a receipt once you have
reached your destination.
Recently there have been some incidents where taxi drivers at
Copenhagen Airport have refused to take passengers who did not need
to go very far. According to the Danish Taxi Board, taxi drivers are
required to transport passengers regardless of how far they have to go.
Postal services, telephone and fax
Telephone and Fax
♦ Calling
The international prefix for Denmark is 0045. You do not need to use
this prefix when making domestic calls within Denmark.
of your letter and its destination. All rates can be found at
Example:
A
http://www.postdanmark.dk/contentfull.dk?lang=en.
postcard or a letter from Denmark to another EU member state costs
DKK 7.25 for up to 50g.
Delivery times: Most domestic letters will be delivered within 24
hours; for international deliveries allow 1 to 5 days.
♦ Faxes can be sent from post offices, some kiosks (e.g. 7-Eleven)
and most hotels for a minor fee.
Internet
♦ All libraries in Denmark have computers with Internet access. Ask
the staff if there is a restriction on time or use.
♦ Internet cafés can be found in most cities throughout Denmark.
Rates may vary, but you will be charged according to the amount of
time spent using the computer. To find an Internet café, ask the local
tourist office.
Across the country, telephone booths can be found in squares, main
streets and train stations. They usually look like green sentry houses.
♦ If you are bringing your laptop, please note that many cafés have
installed wireless Internet hotspots, which guests may use. You can
find more information on where such hotspots are located at:
www.openwifi.dk.
You can pay with either coins (DKK or EUR) or telephone cards – but
not always both. Some of the booths even accept credit cards.
Travelling with your pets
Telephone cards can be bought with the value of DKK 30, 50 and 100
in kiosks, at train stations, post offices and grocery stores near the
telephone booth.
Denmark is very well covered by the various Danish mobile phone
operators. Find out from your own operator which Danish network to
choose in order to use your mobile phone in Denmark at a lower cost.
♦ Mail
Mail boxes: In Denmark, mail boxes are red and can be found along
the street and in every Post Office and train station. Mail collection
times are displayed on the boxes.
Stamps: You can purchase stamps at any post office and at some
kiosks and grocery stores. Postage costs vary according to the weight
♦
Cats, dogs and ferrets travelling with you within the European
Union must comply with the following demands:
- Identification (tattoo or microchip)
- Vaccination for rabies (no later that 21 days prior to departure)
- European passport (blue) issued by an official veterinarian in
your country and providing the following details:
- Pet’s date of birth/age
- Microchip number, date of insertion and location of the
microchip on the animal
- Date of vaccination (Note that the most recent date of
vaccination must not be older that the date of the ID tagging)
- Vaccine product name
- Batch number
- Date for next booster vaccination (calculated by reference to
the vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet)
More information can be found at the Danish Veterinary and Food
Administration, www.fvst.dk.
♦ Your car: Contact the local police station. The police station will
register your complaint.
♦
Important: Dogs of the breed Pit Bull or Tosa and any crossbreeds hereof are not permitted on Danish territory.
♦ Your credit card: Cancel your credit card as soon as possible, and
then submit a statement at the Police station. Phone your bank service
or contact the issuer according to your type of card:
Useful phone numbers
Police emergencies
Ambulance (medical
emergencies)
Lægevagten (Copenhagen –
emergency doctors):
Tandlægevagten (Copenhagen –
emergency dentists):
Fire brigade / Emergency
European emergency line
112 for emergencies or
dial 1448 and you will
be directed to the
nearest police station
112
+45 7013 0041
or +45 4453 4400
Oslo Plads 14
2100 Copenhagen Ø
Open Mon-Sun: 8-9:30
p.m. and Sat-Sun 10
a.m.-12 noon
112
112
Calls to 112 from telephone booths are free of charge.
If you lose:
♦ Your ID papers: Submit a statement at the nearest police station
where they will give you a receipt, then contact your embassy or
consulate.
♦ Your keys or any other object: Ask the police for the telephone
number of the lost property service of the city you are in (in
Copenhagen: +45 3874 8822). If you lose personal belongings on a
train, bus or ferry you will have to contact the company or line you
travelled with.
Items lost in Copenhagen Airport are kept by the airport police until the
following morning. The airport police can be reached at +45 3245
1448. Hereafter it is forwarded to lost property service in Copenhagen
(see above).
-
Eurocard-Mastercard http://www.mastercard.dk, + 45 4489
2750
-
Visa http://www.visa.dk, + 45 4489 2929
-
Diners Club: http://www.dinersclub.dk, +45 3673 7373
-
American Express http://www.american-express.dk, +45 7020
7097
♦ An animal: Contact the animal protection service (Dyreværnet), +45
4494 6695.
The European Consumer Centres Network
If you, as a foreign consumer, feel you have been mistreated by a
Danish professional, the European Consumer Centres will be pleased to
help you reach an amicable settlement of the dispute.
Normally, you should contact your national European Consumer Centre.
However, while on holiday in Denmark you are also welcome to contact
European Consumer Centre Denmark. We will be able to assist you in
Danish and English.
You can find further information and a complete list of all the centres
at: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/redress/ecc_network/index_en.htm
Contact European Consumer Centre Denmark
Forbruger Europa
Amagerfaelledvej 56
DK-2300 Copenhagen S
Phone: +45 3266 9000
Fax: +45 3266 9100
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.consumereurope.dk