The Consumer Protection Act will change from January

By: Trademagazin Date: 2023. 09. 15. 13:17

Amendments to the Consumer Protection Act make it possible to settle consumer protection legal disputes faster and more widely without the involvement of lawsuits and lawyers. At the joint conference of the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BKIK), the Consumer Protection Association (FORE) and the Budapest Conciliation Board (BBT), interested parties were informed about the changes that will come into effect on January 1, 2024, as well as the information revealed in connection with the Booking.com scandal. deficiencies were also discussed at the event.

Kötelező erejű, azonnal végrehajtható döntést hozhatnak a területi kereskedelmi és iparkamarák mellett működő Békéltető Testületek

“When creating the consumer protection policy, ensuring consumer protection available to everyone and creating uniform application of the law was an extremely important aspect. According to this, the new law transforms the conciliation board system, which will provide consumers and businesses with a much more flexible and effective dispute resolution option.”

Dr. said at the conference. Nóra Kupecki, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Justice.

Dr. Éva Inzelt, president of the Budapest Conciliation Board, explained the main changes to the Consumer Protection Act:

– the most significant change is that the conciliation bodies can make a binding decision against businesses even without a declaration of submission, if the request is well-founded and the consumer’s claim does not exceed HUF 200,000.

– As of 2024, as a general rule, the conciliation bodies will act online, and a personal hearing will be held if the consumer requests it. Companies must ensure online participation in the hearings.

– creation of 8 regional conciliation body centers instead of the current 20 bodies. As a result of the amendment, in addition to the 8 regional centers, personal hearings can still take place in the individual county seats according to the consumer’s choice, and in addition, the personal hearing locations in cities with county rights that are not county seats will be expanded. So instead of the previous 20, personal hearings are provided in 27 places.