THE EFFECT OF EXORBITANT PRICE ON THE VALIDITY OF THE CONTRACT

Rauf Karasu; Ayça Zorluoğlu Yılmaz

Article Details

THE EFFECT OF EXORBITANT PRICE ON THE VALIDITY OF THE CONTRACT

Authors:

Rauf Karasu | Ayça Zorluoğlu Yılmaz

Publisher:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Main Topics:

Hukuk (Diğer)

Journal:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.27 Issue 4, pp.65-99

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001303575

pISSN:

2651-4141

Keywords:

Abstract:

 As a rule, the parties can freely determine the amount of performance within the framework of the principle of freedom of contract. However, certain limits have been brought to the principle of freedom of contract by the Law. Accordingly, a contract cannot be impossible and cannot be contrary to law, morality, public order and personal rights. It is unlawful to abuse the dominant position by imposing exorbitant prices and thereby causing damage. For this reason, contracts with exorbitant prices should be evaluated in terms of the relevant provisions of the Turkish Code of Obligations and the Law on the Protection of the Consumer.Uncertainties in determining the exorbitant price constitute the biggest problem in this area. In the study, first of all, the concept of exorbitant price was tried to be revealed and it was aimed to determine the exorbitant price in the light of the decisions considered as the touchstone in this field. After it is determined that an exorbitant price is applied in a contract, the legal consequences of the exorbitant price should be examined. In both the Law on the Protection of Competition and the Law on the Protection of the Consumer, it is prohibited for an undertaking to abuse its dominant position in the market and to engage in unfair commercial practices. Exorbitant pricing is also a violation of this imperative prohibitive provision. As a rule, the sanction of violation of mandatory provisions is absolute nullity, but this illegality may not be noticed at first, especially in contracts where one of the parties is the consumer. Meanwhile, the product or service for which the exorbitant price was applied may have been used and it may have become impossible to return. In this case, the full implementation of the nullity sanction may create a more unfavorable situation especially for consumers. For this reason, it is necessary to evaluate the issue in depth.

 As a rule, the parties can freely determine the amount of performance within the framework of the principle of freedom of contract. However, certain limits have been brought to the principle of freedom of contract by the Law. Accordingly, a contract cannot be impossible and cannot be contrary to law, morality, public order and personal rights. It is unlawful to abuse the dominant position by imposing exorbitant prices and thereby causing damage. For this reason, contracts with exorbitant prices should be evaluated in terms of the relevant provisions of the Turkish Code of Obligations and the Law on the Protection of the Consumer.Uncertainties in determining the exorbitant price constitute the biggest problem in this area. In the study, first of all, the concept of exorbitant price was tried to be revealed and it was aimed to determine the exorbitant price in the light of the decisions considered as the touchstone in this field. After it is determined that an exorbitant price is applied in a contract, the legal consequences of the exorbitant price should be examined. In both the Law on the Protection of Competition and the Law on the Protection of the Consumer, it is prohibited for an undertaking to abuse its dominant position in the market and to engage in unfair commercial practices. Exorbitant pricing is also a violation of this imperative prohibitive provision. As a rule, the sanction of violation of mandatory provisions is absolute nullity, but this illegality may not be noticed at first, especially in contracts where one of the parties is the consumer. Meanwhile, the product or service for which the exorbitant price was applied may have been used and it may have become impossible to return. In this case, the full implementation of the nullity sanction may create a more unfavorable situation especially for consumers. For this reason, it is necessary to evaluate the issue in depth.

 As a rule, the parties can freely determine the amount of performance within the framework of the principle of freedom of contract. However, certain limits have been brought to the principle of freedom of contract by the Law. Accordingly, a contract cannot be impossible and cannot be contrary to law, morality, public order and personal rights. It is unlawful to abuse the dominant position by imposing exorbitant prices and thereby causing damage. For this reason, contracts with exorbitant prices should be evaluated in terms of the relevant provisions of the Turkish Code of Obligations and the Law on the Protection of the Consumer.Uncertainties in determining the exorbitant price constitute the biggest problem in this area. In the study, first of all, the concept of exorbitant price was tried to be revealed and it was aimed to determine the exorbitant price in the light of the decisions considered as the touchstone in this field. After it is determined that an exorbitant price is applied in a contract, the legal consequences of the exorbitant price should be examined. In both the Law on the Protection of Competition and the Law on the Protection of the Consumer, it is prohibited for an undertaking to abuse its dominant position in the market and to engage in unfair commercial practices. Exorbitant pricing is also a violation of this imperative prohibitive provision. As a rule, the sanction of violation of mandatory provisions is absolute nullity, but this illegality may not be noticed at first, especially in contracts where one of the parties is the consumer. Meanwhile, the product or service for which the exorbitant price was applied may have been used and it may have become impossible to return. In this case, the full implementation of the nullity sanction may create a more unfavorable situation especially for consumers. For this reason, it is necessary to evaluate the issue in depth.

 Sözleşme özgürlüğü ilkesi çerçevesinde taraflar kural olarak edim miktarını serbestçe tayin edebilirler. Ancak sözleşme özgürlüğü ilkesine Kanunla belli sınırlar getirilmiştir. Buna göre bir sözleşme imkânsız olmayacağı gibi, hukuka, ahlaka, kamu düzenine ve kişilik hakkına da aykırı olamaz. Fahiş fiyat uygulamak suretiyle hâkim durumun kötüye kullanılması ve bu suretle zarara yol açılması hukuka aykırıdır. Bu sebeple fahiş fiyat uygulanan sözleşmelerin Türk Borçlar Kanunu ve Tüketicinin Korunması Hakkında Kanunnun ilgili hükümleri bakımından değerlendirilmesi gerekir. Fahiş fiyatın belirlenmesinde belirsizlikler bu alandaki en büyük sıkıntıyı oluşturmaktadır. Çalışma içerisinde öncelikle fahiş fiyat kavramı izah edilmeye çalışılmış ve fahiş fiyatın bu alandaki mihenk taşı sayılan kararlar ışığında belirlenmesi hedeflenmiştir. Bir sözleşmede fahiş fiyat uygulandığı tespit edildikten sonra fahiş fiyatın hukuki sonuçları incelenmelidir. Gerek Rekabetin Korunması Hakkında Kanun, gerekse Tüketicinin Korunması Hakkında Kanunda bir teşebbüsün, pazardaki hâkim durumunu kötüye kullanması ve haksız ticari uygulamalar yapması yasaklanmıştır. Fahiş fiyat uygulanması da bu emredici nitelikteki yasaklayıcı hükmün ihlali niteliğindedir. Kural olarak emredici hükümlere aykırılığın yaptırımı kesin hükümsüzlük olmakla birlikte, özellikle taraflarından birinin tüketicinin oluşturduğu sözleşmelerde bu hukuka aykırılık ilk başta fark edilmeyebilir. Bu sırada fahiş fiyatın uygulandığı ürün veya hizmet kullanılmış ve artık iadesi imkânsız hale gelmiş olabilir. Bu takdirde kesin hükümsüzlük yaptırımının tümüyle uygulanması özellikle tüketiciler açısından daha elverişsiz bir durum ortaya çıkarabilir. Bu sebeple meselenin derinlemesine değerlendirilmesi gereklidir.

Article Details

THE EFFECT OF EXORBITANT PRICE ON THE VALIDITY OF THE CONTRACT

Authors:

Rauf Karasu | Ayça Zorluoğlu Yılmaz

Publisher:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Main Topics:

Hukuk (Diğer)

Journal:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.27 Issue 4, pp.65-99

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001303575

pISSN:

2651-4141

Exorbitant price

cartel

partial nullity

unfair trade practice

consumerFahiş fiyat

kartel

kısmi hükümsüzlük

haksız ticari uygulama

tüketici

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Rauf Karasu | Ayça Zorluoğlu Yılmaz

Publisher: Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Main Topics: Hukuk (Diğer)

Journal: Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.27 Issue 4, pp.65-99

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 10/2023

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001303575

pISSN: 2651-4141

Issues

Authors:

Rauf Karasu | Ayça Zorluoğlu Yılmaz

Publisher:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Main Topics:

Hukuk (Diğer)

Journal:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.27 Issue 4, pp.65-99

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001303575

pISSN:

2651-4141