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Reporting obligations regarding out-of-court settlements of consumer disputes – 1 May 2016
Vendors are obliged to provide information in their general business terms and conditions about the method they use to resolve consumer disputes extra judicially no later than by 1 May 2016. This fact stems from the effective date of the amendment to the Consumer Protection Act and from the transitory provisions thereof.
Clients, especially travel agencies and tour operators, are turning to us with questions regarding the obligation of vendors to inform customers about the system they use for settling disputes extra judicially at the Czech Trade Inspection. Despite information that is spreading in the corridors of businesses involved in the tourist trade, vendors are obliged to amend their general business terms and conditions no later than within three months of the amendment of the Consumer Protection Act coming into force. The pertinent parts of the law did not come into force until 1 February 2016; therefore, the decisive date is 1 May 2016, after which the Czech Trade Inspection will be checking that this obligation has been reflected in the general business terms and conditions.
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Jasper Brinkman
Jasper Brinkman
"Following a devastating hotel fire in Prague, the law firm Holubová advokáti, led by attorney Klara Dvorakova, successfully represented our extended family as a group of victims. The firm navigated complex international insurance and compensation laws to defend our rights.
I would like to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts the firm had to make to bring our case to a successful compensation under extremely difficult circumstances."
Stewarts
Stewarts
"A visit to her daughter in London turned Eva's life upside down when she says she stepped into a crossing on a green light but was hit by a car. Despite her remarkable bravery, she faced a long treatment due to fractures in her pelvis, and the associated limitations and pain are likely to persist for the rest of her life. Regular headaches and impaired concentration compound her challenges.
Eva contacted us through an organization temporarily helping her manage her difficult living situation. At that time, she was destitute, relying only on subsistence payments. We were able to assist her because we specialize in personal injury and have contacts with proven colleagues abroad.
We worked with Stewarts, a UK law firm, on this case. Attorneys Klára Dvořáková and Rebecca Huxford helped Eva with the documentation in her case, explaining her options and the differences between the Czech and British systems of healthcare and social benefits reimbursement. Within a few months, thanks to the professional cooperation between the two offices, an offer of compensation from the insurance company of approximately CZK seven million was achieved. The client accepted this settlement because she did not want to deal with courts in the United Kingdom.
Subsequently, we assisted the client with related tax issues and contacted Auditone, a tax consultancy firm, which arranged for the filing of a tax return. Compensation for lost income is taxable, unlike most personal injury compensation.
'No one has done as much for me as you,' Eva said.
The fact that we were able to help Eva gives our work meaning and brings us great joy. We are very happy that, thanks to our many years of active involvement in the international professional organization PEOPIL, we can cooperate on such cases."