Poland - Better consumer protection - act on consumer rights

Unsuccessful transaction in the Internet or with a sales representative? Each of us will have the right to return the product purchased in this way within 14 days. Moreover, the costs of the goods and services purchase will no longer be a surprise for the customers. Today, the Parliament completed works on the Act on consumer rights.

Today, the Parliment adopted the Senate’s amendments to the Act on consumer rights. After it is signed by the President of the Republic of Poland, the new law will come into force within 6 months as from its publication in the Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland.

What changes to expect?

Consumers will be given even wider protection of their rights. The most important changes that will protect all the weaker participants of the market are: extension of the period of withdrawal from a contract concluded away from business premises or through distance selling from 10 to 14 days and requirement to obtain express consent of the consumer for all additional payments exceeding the agreed remuneration for the main entrepreneur’s obligations under the contract. Thus, shopping in the Internet will become safer.

While lodging a complaint, a consumer having purchased a defective product will have the choice between repairing it, exchanging it, reduction of the price and withdrawal from the contract.

Entry into force

Entrepreneurs, their customers and organisations defending the consumer rights will need some time to adapt to new regulations. Therefore the extension of the vacatio legis, i.e. time necessary for the entry of the regulation into force, to 6 months will enable better application of the act. In order to increase the awareness of the market participants on the new regulation, UOKiK plans to launch an information campaign in the autumn.

The Act implementing the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council to the Polish law was prepared by the Ministry of Justice. The rights of purchasers and the obligations of sellers will be identical in the entire EU.

Read the press release in Polish.