Consumer protection

According to Greek office of European Consumer Centre, Greece has the least engaging consumers when it comes to resolving customer disputes.

Packages of beans coming from Egypt or China that contain indications of "local" origin are sold in the country, the consumer protection watchdog has revealed.

Bulgaria's Commission for Consumer Protection (KZP) is filing collective actions against the three mobile operators functioning in the country due to unfair provisions in fixed-term contracts.

Bulgaria's Supreme Administrative Court (VAS) has upheld unfair commercial practice accusations of the consumer protection watchdog against telecom operator Vivacom.

Bulgaria's Parliament passed amendments to the Consumer Protection Act, extending the right of consumers to return goods bought outside the business premises within 14 days. 

The extension of the previous seven-day period was passed with the EU Directive of Consumer Rights (2011/83/EC), which became effective on June 13, 2014. 

Bulgaria's parliamentary committee on economic policy and tourism approved the merger of the anti-trust and consumer protection watchdogs.

The proposal passed first reading at the parliamentary committee on Thursday.

Bulgaria's government is planning to introduce financial education in secondary schools, Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski revealed.

The idea is part of a national strategy for increasing financial literacy, envisioned in the period 2014-2018, and will be implemented into the curriculum at various stages, Investor.bg informs.

BELGRADE - Under the new consumer protection law, consumers who have a complaint about faulty goods will be entitled to a refund, replacement or repair for six months after the purchase, and the refund will be provided within 30 days, Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajic said Monday.

Bulgaria's Parliament may avoid an infringement procedure for the failure to amend the Consumer Protection Act on time, according to the Chair of the consumer protection watchdog.

A bill envisaging a single body in charge of competition and consumer protection has been submitted by Yordan Tsonev, MP from liberal party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS).

The commission will combine the functions of the existing Commission on Protection of Competition and Commission for Consumer Protection.