“Since the start of January, when our Centre started to operate within the structure of the Czech Trade Inspectorate, we have dealt with 172 cases. About two thirds of these cases have been closed, with a success rate of approximately 70%. In some cases, we were unable to help consumers because they had become victims of fraud, and we referred them to the police or the courts. The remaining cases were forwarded to other competent authorities,” says ECC director Tomáš Večl. “Traditionally, many cases involve unresolved consumer requests for refunds for cancelled or delayed flights, the handling of complaints about electronics, especially those purchased online, and the reclaiming of VAT paid on purchases of vehicles abroad. These cases are generally resolved successfully.”
This year, the Czech ECC also launched a consumer competition to find the funniest experience with a retailer from an EU country, Norway or Iceland. “Prizes – a laptop, a camcorder and a camera – will be awarded for the three funniest and most interesting stories from Czech consumers. They will be judged on whether they actually happened (a prerequisite) and how they are described. More details are available on our website at www.coi.cz/esc,” says Ondřej Tichota, a communications specialist at ECC.
The ECC is contacted by Czechs who have become embroiled in disputes with vendors of products or services from another EU country, Norway or Iceland. Czech lawyers assist them in collaboration with colleagues from the European Consumer Centres in the relevant countries, who directly contact the vendor involved in the dispute. The staff of the ECC, at the Czech Trade Inspectorate, also assist consumers from other European Union countries in their disputes with Czech retailers.
This year, the Czech ECC also launched a consumer competition to find the funniest experience with a retailer from an EU country, Norway or Iceland. “Prizes – a laptop, a camcorder and a camera – will be awarded for the three funniest and most interesting stories from Czech consumers. They will be judged on whether they actually happened (a prerequisite) and how they are described. More details are available on our website at www.coi.cz/esc,” says Ondřej Tichota, a communications specialist at ECC.
The ECC is contacted by Czechs who have become embroiled in disputes with vendors of products or services from another EU country, Norway or Iceland. Czech lawyers assist them in collaboration with colleagues from the European Consumer Centres in the relevant countries, who directly contact the vendor involved in the dispute. The staff of the ECC, at the Czech Trade Inspectorate, also assist consumers from other European Union countries in their disputes with Czech retailers.