WhizzBang

About WhizzBang

WhizzBang is an international, European network with one goal: to help expatriates (“expats”) within the European Union understand their consumer rights and to guarantee them a reliable legal footing. We work so that people who have moved to another EU member state know, understand and can enforce their rights as consumers — and so that those rights are not withheld from them. WhizzBang grew out of several associations from different EU member states.

The WhizzBang network has three member associations. Their names point to where they are based, but they do not limit their work to that region.

WhizzBang aisbl (Brussels, Belgium)

WhizzBang aisbl (association internationale sans but lucratif) is the coordinating body of the network. It represents the interests of the WhizzBang collective before the European Commission and the Parliament, and develops cross-border strategies to further strengthen consumer protection for expats across all EU member states.

WhizzBang Euregio Meuse-Rhine (Aachen, Germany)

Based in the German–Belgian border region, this organisation plays an important role thanks to its linguistic and cultural roots in the area. To meet the particular needs of expats, WhizzBang maintains several offices in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. This lets it capture national particularities and, in cooperation with the competent national authorities, feed them into the European debate.

WhizzBang Viadrina (Frankfurt/Oder, Germany)

Like Meuse-Rhine, WhizzBang Euregio Viadrina works across borders. These binational structures allow local roots, broad language skills and a deep insight into country-specific legal and social conditions. The findings from this work feed into the whole network. The member association WhizzBang Viadrina is legally identical to the former association EuroConsum e.V.

The Service Juridique

The network’s Service Juridique is the internal centre of competence for all member associations and partner institutions. It handles all legal questions, compliance, and the coordination of proceedings against unfair practices, with offices in Belgium and Slovakia. → Learn more about the Service Juridique

Want to work with us?

  • You like punching well above your weight class?
  • You have no problem making yourself unpopular with companies and lobby organisations (and sometimes with member-state governments)?
  • You have a hands-on idea of the work and tackle problems instead of avoiding them? You work efficiently and precisely?
  • You know your way around law and EU policy, and you speak at least three (official) languages of the European Union (including at least one of the working languages)?

Then send us an application — it needn’t be a big deal; just tell us why you fit the profile and fit us. Maybe something comes of it and we can move things together.

For work in our legal service it helps if you are confident in German and French; English certainly does no harm either.

FAQ

I think I have been the victim of an unfair commercial practice, but I don’t understand which of your member associations I should complain to.

All consumer complaints — for every EU member state — are received and handled by the joint Service Juridique, our legal service, in Belgium. The Service Juridique also takes on and coordinates market surveillance and enforcement. It has its own page.

Is the work limited to particular areas, e.g. Germany–Poland or the Rhine–Meuse region?

No. The regional associations only serve to structure our work. If an expat contacts WhizzBang Rhine-Meuse in Polish or Czech, for example, their request will most likely be handled by someone in the Viadrina association or in the Danubia-Alpes-Adria working group.

Why are so many of your member associations based in Germany?

German law is not exemplary in every respect, let alone modern — but German non-profit law offers a proven and stable legal framework. While some companies leave Germany because of the tax system, we came to Germany because of it.