Consumer Law

For disputes below the statutory monetary threshold, an application to the consumer arbitration board is mandatory; above that amount, a case must be filed directly before the consumer court. The current threshold is redetermined each year.

The consumer may choose between free repair, a price reduction proportionate to the defect, replacement with a defect-free equivalent, or rescission of the contract (refund). In cases of a serious defect, rescission may be requested directly.

The consumer may withdraw from the contract within 14 days of delivery of the goods, without giving any reason and without paying any penalty. The withdrawal notice must reach the seller within this period.

When the right of withdrawal is exercised, return shipping costs are generally borne by the consumer, unless the seller has undertaken in the contract to cover them.

Rights against defects may be exercised within the general statutory limitation periods running from delivery of the goods; this period differs from, and is generally longer than, the warranty period.

Yes, where the goods or services are not supplied at all or not properly, the consumer may object to the credit card transaction by applying to the bank.

Advertising claims are binding on the seller; the absence of a promised feature allows you to exercise your rights against defects on the ground that the goods are defective.

Yes, a consumer who repays early on a consumer loan or installment sale is entitled to a proportional reduction in the interest and charges relating to the unpaid instalments.

Final Consumer Arbitration Board decisions are treated as documents having the effect of a judgment, and if not complied with, may directly form the basis of enforcement proceedings.

The consumer may terminate a fixed-term subscription contract without giving any reason; the provider must process this request within a reasonable time.

Yes, the seller's liability for defects continues to apply in used-goods sales as well, though the used condition of the goods is reasonably taken into account when assessing a defect.

The right of withdrawal cannot be exercised in the statutory exceptional cases, such as custom-made goods, perishable goods, and hygienic products whose packaging has been opened.

No, repairs within the warranty period must be carried out without charging any fee, whether for labour, replacement parts, or under any other name.

As a rule, no early-repayment penalty may be applied; for fixed-rate loans, a limited early-repayment compensation set by law may exceptionally be claimed, depending on the remaining term.

A complaint about advertising considered misleading or unfair may be submitted in writing to the relevant ministry or directly to the Advertising Board, together with a sample of the advertisement and the grounds for complaint.