Request for a preliminary ruling from the Juzgado de Primera Instancia No 2 de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain) lodged on 6 April 2021 — Zulima v Servicios prescriptor y medios de pagos E.F.C.  S.A.U.

(Case C-215/21)

(2021/C 320/16)

Language of the case: Spanish

Referring court

Juzgado de Primera Instancia de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Zulima

Defendant: Servicios prescriptor y medios de pagos E.F.C. S.A.U.

Question referred

Where a consumer raises a complaint against an unfair term under Directive 93/13/EC (1) and an out-of-court offer to settle is made, Article 22 of the Ley de Enjuiciamiento Civil (Law of Civil Procedure) has the effect of compelling the consumer to bear the costs of the proceedings without regard to the seller’s or supplier’s prior conduct in having failed to heed the letters of formal notice [issued to him]. Do those Spanish rules of procedure constitute a significant obstacle capable of dissuading a consumer from exercising the right to effective judicial review of the potentially unfair nature of a contractual term contrary to the principle of effectiveness and Article[s] 6(1) and 7(1) of Directive 93/13?

(1)  Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts (OJ 1993 L 95, p. 29).