Right of Withdrawal

World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA)
Registered Office: Straße der Wiener Wirtschaft 1 #254, 1020 Vienna, Austria

1. Your Right of Withdrawal

1.1 General Right

As a consumer in the European Union, you have the right to withdraw from certain contracts with WFTGA within 14 days without giving any reason, in accordance with EU Consumer Rights Directive and Austrian consumer protection law.

1.2 Definition of Consumer

A consumer is any natural person who enters into a contract for purposes that are outside their trade, business, craft, or profession.

2. Withdrawal Period

2.1 Standard Withdrawal Period

The withdrawal period is 14 days from:

• Goods: The day you (or a third party designated by you) acquire physical possession of the goods
• Services: The day the contract is concluded
• Digital Content: The day the contract is concluded

2.2 Extension of Withdrawal Period

If we fail to provide you with the required withdrawal information, the withdrawal period is extended to:

• 12 months from the original expiry date, or
• 14 days from when we provide the missing information

3. Services Subject to Withdrawal

3.1 Applicable Services

The right of withdrawal applies to:

• Online shop purchases (membership cards, merchandise)
• Educational courses and training programs
• Conference registrations
• Digital content and materials

3.2 Withdrawal Form

You may use the withdrawal form below or make any other unambiguous statement expressing your wish to withdraw.

4. Exceptions to Withdrawal Rights

4.1 Services Cannot Be Withdrawn

You cannot withdraw from contracts for:

• Services fully performed: If we have fully performed the service before the withdrawal period ends and you gave your explicit consent to begin performance
• Accommodation services: For specific dates or periods (where dates are specified)
• Customized products: Goods made to your specifications or clearly personalized
• Perishable goods: Items with limited shelf life
• Digital content: Non-physical digital content where performance has begun with your consent

4.2 Association Membership Services

For services related to association membership:

• Membership Applications: Processing of new member applications
• Annual Dues: Membership fee payments and renewals
• Professional Certification: Tourist guide certification and continuing education
• Directory Listings: Professional member directory services
• Governance Participation: Voting rights and board elections

4.3 International Federation Services

As an international federation, some services may have specific withdrawal limitations:

• Cross-border Certifications: Already issued international certifications
• Member Directory Services: Published member information (can be updated/removed)
• Conference Registrations: International conference participation with specific cancellation terms

4.4 Course-Specific Exceptions

For educational services:

• Courses already commenced: If the course has started with your express consent and acknowledgment of loss of withdrawal rights
• Intensive programs: Residential courses that have begun
• Certification services: Where certification has been issued

5. How to Exercise Your Withdrawal Right

5.1 Notification Methods

To withdraw from a contract, send a clear statement to:

Email: info@wftga.org
Post: World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA)
Straße der Wiener Wirtschaft 1 #254, 1020 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43 676 9179366

5.2 Withdrawal Deadline

You meet the withdrawal deadline if you send your withdrawal notice before the withdrawal period expires.

5.3 Withdrawal Form Template

6. Effects of Withdrawal

6.1 Contract Cancellation

If you withdraw from the contract:

• The contract is cancelled from the beginning
• Both parties are released from contractual obligations
• You must return any goods received

6.2 Refund Timeline

We will refund all payments received from you:

• When: Without undue delay and within 14 days of receiving your withdrawal notice
• Method: Using the same payment method you used for the original transaction
• Costs: Payment processing fees, transaction costs, and bank charges will be deducted from the refund amount as permitted by law
• Net Amount: You will receive the net amount after deduction of processing costs

6.3 Refund Conditions

We may withhold the refund until:

• We have received the goods back, or
• You have provided evidence of having sent the goods back

7. Return of Goods

7.1 Return Obligation

If you withdraw from a contract for goods, you must:

• Return the goods without undue delay
• Send goods within 14 days of withdrawal notice
• Use appropriate packaging to prevent damage

7.2 Return Costs

Standard Returns: You bear the direct cost of returning goods unless:

• We offered to collect the goods ourselves
• We failed to inform you that you would bear return costs

High-Value Items: For goods over €40, we will bear return costs if we failed to inform you of your obligation to pay return costs.

7.3 Return Address

Return goods to: World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA)
Straße der Wiener Wirtschaft 1 #254
1020 Vienna
Austria

8. Diminished Value

8.1 Your Responsibility

You are liable for any diminished value of goods resulting from handling beyond what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics, and functioning of the goods.

8.2 Reasonable Handling

You may handle goods as you would in a physical store to:

• Check the nature and characteristics
• Test basic functionality
• Verify the goods match your order

8.3 Excessive Use

You are liable for reduced value if you use goods beyond reasonable examination.

9. Partial Withdrawal

9.1 Multiple Items

If you order multiple items, you may withdraw from part of the contract and keep other items.

9.2 Course Modules

For modular courses, you may withdraw from specific modules if they can be separated from the main course.

10. Service Performance During Withdrawal Period

10.1 Express Consent Required

We will only begin performance of services during the withdrawal period if you:

• Expressly request early performance
• Acknowledge that you lose your right of withdrawal once service is fully performed

10.2 Partial Performance

If you withdraw after service performance has begun, you must pay for services provided up to the withdrawal point.

11. Digital Content

11.1 Loss of Withdrawal Rights

For digital content not supplied on a tangible medium, you lose withdrawal rights when:

• Download or streaming begins
• You gave express consent to begin performance
• You acknowledged losing withdrawal rights

11.2 Pre-Performance Confirmation

Before providing digital content, we will obtain your:

• Express consent to begin performance before withdrawal period ends
• Acknowledgment of loss of withdrawal rights

12. Business Customers

12.1 No Withdrawal Rights

The right of withdrawal does not apply to contracts with business customers or when services are purchased for commercial purposes.

12.2 Separate Cancellation Terms

Business customers are subject to our standard cancellation terms as outlined in our Terms and Conditions.

13. Dispute Resolution

13.1 Customer Service

For withdrawal-related questions or disputes, contact our customer service team:

• Email: info@wftga.org
• Phone: +43 676 9179366

13.2 Alternative Dispute Resolution

EU consumers may use the Online Dispute Resolution platform: https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/

13.3 Consumer Protection Authority

You may contact the Austrian Consumer Protection Authority (Verbraucherschutz) for assistance with withdrawal rights.

14. Legal References

This withdrawal policy is based on:

• EU Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU
• Austrian Consumer Protection Act (Konsumentenschutzgesetz)
• Austrian Civil Code (Allgemeines Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch)

15. Contact Information

Withdrawal and Customer Service
World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA)
Email: info@wftga.org
Phone: +43 676 9179366
Address: Straße der Wiener Wirtschaft 1 #254, 1020 Vienna, Austria
Contact Person: Sebastian Frankenberger (President)

Austrian Consumer Protection Authority
Website: www.verbraucherschutz.at
Consumer Hotline: 0800 201 211

This Right of Withdrawal notice is effective as of 06.09.2025 and complies with current EU and Austrian consumer protection law.