It’s a first in Belgian legal history. Test-Achats is suing the SNCB via a class action (collective compensation). It wants to force the SNCB to reimburse passengers that couldn’t use the trains during the big strikes at the end of last year. A written notification – the first unavoidable step - will be sent on Wednesday morning, Le Soir, the Sudpresse and Mediahuis papers have reported. The consumer defense organisation will hand out flyers in stations, and an internet site (www.vousavezdesdroits.be) has been set up to allow passengers to become part of the case.
Test-Achats is asking for a lump sum of 35 euros per person, the equivalent of a 5 euro return multiplied by 7 for the 7 days of strikes that have affected the railway in the last 8 months (Thursday’s strike included).
The SNCB has around a month to respond, otherwise the Courts will become involved.
(Source: Belga
