ZAGREB, March 18, 2018 – The number of queries and complaints made by Croatian consumers exceeds 25,000 annually and is increasing, the head of the Croatian Consumer Protection Association Ilija Rkman told Hina in an interview on the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day, which is observed on March 15.
Queries most often concern electronic communications, commerce, online shopping, concluding consumer agreements outside business premises, material deficiencies and product warranties, municipal services, financial and insurance services, unfair, misleading and aggressive business practices, violations of the code of business ethics, and tourism, hotel and restaurant services.
Rkman said that in the last three years complaints had mostly related to distraint proceedings, material deficiencies of technical products, and electronic communications. He recalled that Eurobarometer reports of last four years put Croatia at the bottom of EU rankings in terms of consumer rights protection. He said that the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts had cut funding for the operation of consumer advice centres, and warned that without the financial support of local government they would not be able to operate.
A survey conducted by the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts has revealed that Croatian consumers mostly complain about faulty products (42%), particularly electronic devices, and about public services (23%), including electronic communications.
