Duration: June 2018 – June 2022
Objective: The main objective of this project was the promotion of the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods for consumer disputes in The Republic of Cyprus in line with the spirit of Directive 2013/11/EU aiming, through the achievement of a high level of consumer protection, to contribute to the proper functioning of the internal market by ensuring that consumers can, on a voluntary basis, submit complaints against traders to entities offering independent, impartial, transparent, effective, fast and fair alternative dispute resolution procedures.
By becoming a Certified ADR Entity for consumer disputes following approval by the Consumer Protection Service of the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism of the Republic of Cyprus under section 22 of the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes Law of 2017 (L.85(I)/2017) transposing Directive 2013/11/EU, ICLAIM was able to offer ADR procedures in Greek or English for the out-of-court resolution of domestic and cross-border disputes concerning contractual obligations stemming from sales of goods contracts or service contracts between a trader established in Cyprus and a consumer resident in Cyprus or the European Union for four consecutive years in the following areas:
- Consumer Goods
- Energy and Water
- Financial Services
- Investments, pensions and securities
- Insurance (at the Discretion of ICLAIM)
- General Consumer Services
- Health
- Leisure Services
- Transport services
ICLAIM remains dedicated to consumer affairs and is dedicated to the promotion of ADR for consumer disputes. There are a number of potential advantages of using ADR methods for consumers such as lower cost, speed of settlement, control and flexibility of process, confidentiality, use of a problem-solving approach, possible reduction of risk and party satisfaction.