Certification
Quality is of paramount importance to Thuiswinkel.org. All members of Thuiswinkel.org undergo mandatory annual certification with respect to their observance of the general terms and conditions as jointly approved together with the Dutch Consumers’ Association. Furthermore, certification monitors compliance with the relevant laws and legislation and the behavioural codes. Only certified members of Thuiswinkel.org display the trustmark Thuiswinkel Waarborg.
Thuiswinkel.org Trustmark Certification
Since 1st April 2009 all members of Thuiswinkel.org are obliged to undergo annual certification. Certified members can be recognised by the Thuiswinkel Trustmark logo. The Thuiswinkel Trustmark logo provides consumers with a hyperlink to the Thuiswinkel Trustmark Certificate.
Thuiswinkel Trustmark Certification Foundation
Thuiswinkel Trustmark certification is carried out by the Thuiswinkel Trustmark Certification Foundation, for which purpose it was set up by Thuiswinkel.org.
The executive board of the Thuiswinkel Trustmark Certification Foundation is comprised of:
- Cor Molenaar, chairman
- Wil Amian, company secretary
- Kees Wiersema, treasurer
- Dick Westendorp
All members complete an annual questionnaire
All members of Thuiswinkel.org complete an extensive questionnaire annually. This questionnaire is drawn up by the executive board of the foundation on the basis of a monitoring framework drawn up by Thuiswinkel.org.
Assessment of questionnaire by external legal experts
The questionnaire for Thuiswinkel Trustmark certification contains questions about laws and legislation and questions about the Thuiswinkel Trustmark behavioural code. The foundation commissions the legal advice bureau ICTRecht to assess the completed questionnaire and the web-shop’s website.
Thuiswinkel.org awards the Thuiswinkel Trustmark and the accompanying Certificate
If the assessment is positive, the branch association, Thuiswinkel.org, presents members of the association with the Thuiswinkel Trustmark and the accompanying Thuiswinkel Certificate.
Assessment and processes monitored by KPMG
KPMG, as an independent accountancy organisation, has been instructed to monitor the process of certification within the Thuiswinkel Trustmark Certification Foundation. Furthermore, this organisation has been asked to monitor the questionnaires completed by members and their external assessment by carrying out random checks.
Costs of certification
Certification costs (new) members of Thuiswinkel.org an annual contribution of €390.00, exclusive VAT, paid to the Thuiswinkel Trustmark Certification Foundation. Candidate-members pay €290.00 for their annual certification.