A year of discount inspections: what SOI actually fines in promotions and sales

The rule looks simple: anyone announcing a discount must show the previous price, the lowest charged in the preceding 30 days, and calculate the reduction from it. The past year’s supervision shows how enforcement works. On 30 June 2026, SOI published a nationwide campaign summary, while final decisions included the first fines for crossed-out prices inconsistent with records.

Legal basis: § 7 of Act No. 108/2024 Z. z.

Section 7 of the Consumer Protection Act implements European discount announcement rules. The first two paragraphs are central.

Unofficial English translation:

A trader must state the previous price of goods in every price-reduction announcement. The reduction must be determined on the basis of that previous price. — § 7(1) of Act No. 108/2024 Z. z.

The second defines the previous price.

Unofficial English translation:

The previous price is the lowest price at which the trader sold or supplied the goods (a) during the 30 days before the reduction, or (b) since sale or supply began, if that period was shorter than 30 days. — § 7(2) of Act No. 108/2024 Z. z.

For successive reductions within one campaign, the price before the first reduction may be used (§ 7(3)). Perishable goods are excluded (§ 7(4)). SOI expressly adds that the previous price is also the percentage-discount base, including promotional claims emphasising a price advantage, banners and sale leaflets.

Nationwide findings

The campaign ran in two stages, 24 November–23 December 2025 and 29 December 2025–23 January 2026, covering large chains, smaller retailers and selected online stores. According to the 30 June 2026 summary, inspectors checked 180 establishments and 6,022 product types. Breaches occurred in 32 establishments (17.78%) involving 323 product types. Section 7 discount rules were breached in 23 establishments (12.78%), involving 81 of 2,464 discounted product types checked. Eight establishments calculated percentage reductions from the wrong base for 31 product types. Other findings included missing selling prices and four cases where the displayed price was lower than the price in records, classified as a prohibited unfair pricing practice.

What a fine decision looks like

Two final decisions illustrate this. SOI Prešov fined Sport Vision Slovakia s. r. o. EUR 300 in decision PP/0016/07/26 of 9 April 2026. During December’s “SALE up to 50%”, six of twelve checked product types had crossed-out prices that were not the preceding 30-day minimum. For one sweatshirt, records showed EUR 19.95 while the label displayed EUR 84.90. Inspectors requested price history during the visit; the trader supplied it the next day.

SOI Žilina fined JYSK, s.r.o. EUR 400 in decision PP/0006/05/2026 of 27 April 2026. A progressively discounted product showed EUR 7.50 as the previous price although records showed a 30-day minimum of EUR 6.50. The defence of an unintentional administrative error failed: liability is assessed regardless of fault, and in this case SOI took the voluntary correction into account when setting the sanction. More generally, however, Act No. 108/2024 Z. z. also permits a matter to be set aside where the conditions of §§ 35 and 38 are met; remediation therefore does not necessarily affect only the amount of the fine in every case.

Checklist for online and physical stores

• Maintain price histories enabling prompt proof for at least 30 days before each promotion. Inspectors request records on site and compare labels.
• The crossed-out price must be the 30-day minimum, not the last “regular” price, manufacturer recommendation or catalogue price.
• Calculate percentage discounts from that previous price, including banners, emails and promotional claims.
• Progressive reductions may use the pre-campaign price, but records must prove the chain.
• Check which “original price” your online pricing system supplies. The trader remains responsible regardless of fault.
• Physical-store labels must match pricing records; mismatch is a separate violation beyond discount rules.

Discount checks have become routine supervision. Prepare price history before inspectors arrive. We review discount mechanisms, records and marketing through legal services for online stores and terms reviews, and prepare online store terms including pricing rules for launch. Related guidance covers 14-day withdrawal from online purchases and mandatory store information and order formation.