Consumer protection

Consumer protection is a set of laws and measures that aim to safeguard consumers' rights and provide them with protection when buying goods and services. This protection is important to maintain a balance between consumers and businesses and to ensure a fair and transparent market. Here are the key aspects of consumer protection:

Consumer rights:

The right to safety: consumers have the right to ensure that the products and services they buy are safe and do not cause harm. 

Right to information: Consumers have the right to clear and truthful information about products and services, including their price, features and conditions of use. 

Right to choice: Consumers should be able to choose between different products and services at competitive prices.

 The right to complain: Consumers have the right to complain about defective goods and to ask for their repair, replacement or refund.

• Consumer rights:

  • The right to safety: consumers have the right to ensure that the products and services they buy are safe and do not cause harm.
  • Right to information: Consumers have the right to clear and truthful information about products and services, including their price, features and conditions of use.
  • Right to complain: Consumers should be able to choose between different products and services at competitive prices.
  
  

• Laws and regulations:
  

  • Civil Code:contains provisions on contracts of sale and liability for defects..
  • Consumer Protection Act: Specifies the rights of consumers and the obligations of sellers, including rules on complaints procedures and unfair commercial practices.
  • European Legislation:  The European Union sets out directives and regulations that harmonise consumer protection rules across Member States.

• Consumer protection institutions: 

  The Czech Trade Inspection Authority (CTI): a supervisory body that monitors compliance with consumer protection laws.
  

  Consumer protection associations: Non-profit organisations that provide advice and assistance to consumers to help them solve their problems. 
  Complaints and dispute resolution:
   Consumers have the right to complain about goods that are faulty, usually within 24 months of purchase. 
  There are out-of-court mechanisms for resolving disputes between consumers and businesses, such as mediation or arbitration, which can be quicker and less costly than court proceedings. 
  Protection against unfair practices: Laws protect consumers from misleading advertising, aggressive business practices and other forms of unfair behaviour by sellers. 
  Consumer protection is key to ensuring consumer confidence in the market and promoting fair competition between businesses. Consumers should be informed of their rights and know how to defend themselves if their rights are infringed.