Urząd Ochrony Konkurencji i Konsumentów (UOKiK)
UOKiK was founded over 20 years ago. One of its tasks is to check whether sellers follow the law. On their website in the consumer area you can find frequently asked questions and other useful informations. For more information please visit http://www.uokik.gov.pl or call 800 007 007 (trully a James Bond numer isn’t it?).
Rzecznik Konsumentów (RK)
While UOKiK is tackling abusive laws RK is handling individual cases. In Poland there are over 360 people that occupy this job. Few things you should know about their work:
1. They work together with UOKiK.
2. They’ll help you posting complains.
3. They will represent you in court.
4. They won’t charge you for their work.
If you don’t trust the Government you can always go to private institutions (co-financed by the Government) such as Polish Consumer Federation (Federacja Konsumentów - http://www.federacja-konsumentow.org.pl/) or Association of Polish Consumers (Stowarzyszenie Konsumentów Polskich – http://www.skp.pl). Their legal suport is free. In addition they organise information campaigns.
I highly encourage you to watch these two videos:
While I never had to go to institutions mentioned above it is good to know about them and know about your consumer rights. Sellers often try to avoid taking responsibility for faulty things and bend the law to their will but us consumers have the power to change it by showing knowledge about our rights (and sometimes by threats of going to court).
Questions:
1. Do you think that consumers are well protected in Poland, do you have any knowledge about consumer proctection in other countries?
2. Did you learn something new from my presentation? :)
Finally I would like to thank you guys for participation the the blog, this is my fourth and last semester here. Wish me good luck with defending my masters project! Have a nice summer! *salutes*
Despite existing such institutions that you have mentioned it is not always so easy to win. My mother bought some time TV - there were sales at some shop and price was really good. But we had that time house make-over, and she opened it after it finished (2 weeks after buying). It turned out that the tv's matrix is broken - when we went to store they said that we had week after buying to complain any faults. We went with this case to the RK but the case is still not solved. Probably it will finished in court.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your defence
Polish consumers are not as well protect as in other countries. I have family in Ireland. In this coutry consumer has a lot of more rights and special organization assists in fighting w dishonest seller. In our country it not as good organized as in our west neighbours. I have never had problems with dishonest sellers but I know people who has. They weren't satisfied from help they received.
ReplyDeleteI think that Polish consumer is theoretically well protected by the law (was it an EU requirement?). Execution of those rights are a completely different story. Even though it is better than some years ago, I constantly hear stories from my friends about the prolonged repairs, seller's reluctance to taking the responsibility ("it's manufacturer's fault"). I also didn't hear about a successful story of refunding any edible product, for me it's still a myth, even though we all heard about selling of e.g. spoiled meat.
ReplyDeleteFrom your presentation, I did learn about the organizations which aid consumers in enforcing their rights. I didn't know, we have private ones, supported by the government. I knew about UOKiK and Urząd Komunikacji Elektronicznej, which regulates the competition and aids in enforcing consumer's rights in telecommunications.
Some time ago I was working in shop with motorcycles wear.
ReplyDeleteWhat is interesting, this company was saying their customers that guarantee for their clothes is olny for a year, despite EU law says that they are obliged to give this guarantee for 2 years. I don't know who will win in court, but i am sure that execution of this law will last very long. Morover i think that in many cases, as it is written in presentation, salesman has adventage. For example who is reading product instruction before or even after purchase? No many of customers. But there are very often information about usage of product, which can help salesman proof that we were not using this product corectly and he is not responsible for article any more.
To be honest I'm not well informed how it works, these short instrudtions from YT was very useful, I'll keep in my mind their advices.
ReplyDeleteI think - just like Piotr - that protection works well when we see at the law in theory aspect, but when it comes to practise it may fail, but personally I hadn't problems.
I wish you luck during defending project, it's also my last semester and I'll be trying to get MA title :)
Nice holidays and thanks for all interesting presentations :)
Good to know that there are several state and non-state institutions that you can turn to for help and advice because you never know when you will need a help with a seller who doesn't want take responsibility for faulty things. I don't know about consumer protections in other countries but I think that everywhere is better than in Poland. I did learn from your presentation about that institutions mentioned above.
ReplyDeleteI wish you good luck with your defence and wonderful holiday!!
Really I haven't learned any think new. I think that when you buy on allegro or somethink like that, that you should be prapaired for unexpected problems. If you don't like that, just buy brand products, with good costumer service. It is more expensive, but when somethink happens you will have support and possibilities.
ReplyDeleteI actually wonder if I could change my vote for the best presentation :) That's the most valuable material in my humble opinion.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Polish customer is protected pretty well, at least in theory :) As Tomsi said the execution of the laws protecting the consumers probably last long time. But it seems that sometimes it's enough to show the seller that we are concious of our rights and they immediately change their attitude.
A friend of my has some experience in asking for assistance the organisations helping the customers :) He personally had a few cases when the shop or company rejected his complaints. He used to write a request for help to one of those organisations. The help wasn't quick and immediate but it came eventually. And they even sent official inquiries to the shop for information about his case! :) While it was just a complaint about some silly pair of shoes... So I think - yes, the customers in Poland are pretty well protected! :)
However, I lack practice in this matter in comparison to my friend :) But it's never too late to start learning how you can fight for your rights :) and always be satisifed as a buyer. That's what I think.
Having my own experience I can advise to be well-prepared for bottle with stores. Being patient- waiting for an answer our letter with complaining can last weeks! Big companies have law offices and they know legal legerdemain and they know how to avoid responsibility. I doubt for our customer law. Many organizations are myth-we cannot count on them.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if the consumers in Poland are good protected, because I have never been in situation when I needed protection as a consumer.
ReplyDeleteI think that existence of these three institutions is very important. We can always get help when it will be needed, but I thing that people in Poland are afraid to ask for help in such cases and prefer not to fight with sellers.
Your presentation was very interesting. I thing it will help for the readers to use and protect consumers rights :))
Good luck with your defending ;)
I do think that the consumer is well protected in Poland, but it is important to pay attention to the details (like how long the warranty is for, how much time do you have for return etc.) while shopping. I don't know how customers are protected in other countries, I am however sure that they are very well protected and know how to fight for their rights in USA.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I didn't learn many new things from your presentation, but I did find it interesting. Good luck in getting your diploma.