FOR CONSUMERS
FOR ADR SPECIALISTS
Why Choose The Cyprus Consumer Center For Alternative Dispute Resolution?
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First to cover ALL consumer contracts for goods and services except telecommunications and postal services.
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Wide jurisdiction to resolve ANY disputes in the whole of Cyprus.
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Entrusts ADR to well-trained individuals who possess the relevant Experience and Knowledge.
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Supported by individuals who have years of academic and practical experience in Consumer related matters.
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Lowest Prices.
First ADR Body covering all Consumer Disputes
20 Euros to submit a Dispute
Fastest in solving Disputes
Submit a dispute any hour any day
WHY CHOOSE ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
- ADR procedures are faster than those of the courts and their costs are lower.
- ADR procedures are usually conducted and completed privately and confidentially, without any damage to the reputation of a trader’s business (for example through adverse publicity).
- The ADR processes are more flexible both in terms of outcome as well as with the procedure followed which does not need to abide by strict procedural guidelines. It is still possible to achieve a fairer outcome for the parties which could not be achieved in a court. This is because the court generally decides a case on a win or lose basis – ADR aims at keeping both parties happy by letting parties reach a mutually acceptable and beneficial outcome.
- ADR procedures are friendlier and avoid direct conflicts between parties as compared to those of the Courts.
JURISDICTION OF THE CYPRUS CONSUMER CENTER FOR ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
The areas of consumer disputes the Center covers are the following:
- Financial Services
- Health
- Consumer Goods
- General Consumer Services (Such as Real Estate, Construction of Houses, House Maintenance and Improvement, Renovation)
- Education
- Energy and Water
- Leisure Services
- Transport Services
ESTABLISHMENT
The Center has been established under the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes Law (Law 85(I)/2017) and it is guided by its principles. Namely, 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.
The Center, works under strict quality standards akin to those of foreign dispute resolution Centers. The mediation procedures carried out at the Center are determined by Procedural Rules (based on internationally recognized standards such as those of UNCITRAL drawn up by the Center) with a view to resolving the dispute or reaching a solution. The Center’s Mediation Rules aim to resolve disputes between consumers and traders in order to gain a good understanding of the context of the proceedings. The Center accepts both domestic and cross-border disputes arising between a trader established in the Republic and a consumer from any Member State of the European Union.
The Center provides for the appointment of a neutral, independent and impartial third party (whether called a Conciliator, a Mediator or Arbitrator) who is not a party to the dispute and who undertakes to take the appropriate actions required to resolve the dispute.
In general, the Center can bring the parties in touch with the aim of finding an out of court alternative solution to their dispute.
Πρόσωπα Υπεύθυνα για την Εναλλακτική Επίλυση Διαφορών
We are pioneers in online Dispute Resolution
A Trader and the ADR Specialist can apply with a click to become a Member of the Center. A Consumer can also submit his complaint speedily through the website. The Center informs the Trader immediately so as to minimize delays.
We cover all types of Disputes
We cover all types of consumer disputes except for telecommunications and postal services which are handled under legislation by OCECPR.
We are the fastest and most affordable
Our dispute resolution procedures are the fastest and the cheapest on the market today for both Traders and Consumers.
We cover the whole of Cyprus
We cover all Districts of Cyprus for easier and better access to ADR Services for Traders and Consumers.
We cover domestic and cross-border disputes
The services we provide cover both domestic and cross-border disputes that have arisen from both online transactions and off-line transactions.
Impartiality is guaranteed
We guarantee neutrality, impartiality and independence of procedures since we do not represent the interests of anybody.
MANDATORY INFORMATION
Our Contact Details
Address: Kyriakou Matsi 16, Eagle House, 8th Floor, 1082, Nicosia, Cyprus
Telephone: +357 22 519741
Fax: +357 22 318214
E-mail: secretariat@adrcyprus.com
Our Authority to Act as an ADR entity
Our Entity is included in a list of ADR Entities and can be found in the website of the Consumer Protection Service and the website of the European Commission.
Languages
The languages in which complaints can be submitted and in which the ADR procedure is conducted are Greek or English.
Membership in networks of ADR entities fasciitating cross-border dispute resolution
We are currently working on this.
Types of DIsputes we are competent to deal with
We currently competent to deal with the following matters arising from consumer disputes:
- Consumer Goods
- Education
- Energy and Water
- Financial Services
- General Consumer Services (Such as Real Estate, Construction of new houses, House maintenance and improvement, renovation)
- Health
- Leisure Services
- Transport Services
There are no thresholds in relation to any of the disputes which we deal with. However, in case the consumer chooses arbitration, the dispute must be over €500 in value.
Our Procedural Rules, average length of the procedure and binding nature of procedures
We use three types of Alternative Dispute Resolution procedures. These are Arbitration, Conciliation and Mediation.
| Type of ADR Procedure | Rules | Other rules which we may use | Average length of the procedure | Is the procedure Binding? |
| Arbitration | Arbitration Rules | Arbitration Law of Cyprus (Cap 4) | 60 days from the procedure being initiated | The procedure is binding provided that the parties have been informed after the dispute arising of its binding nature. An award issued during the arbitral process may be enforced by the court. |
| Conciliation | Conciliation Rules | 40 days from the procedure being initiated | Conciliation and Mediation are not binding and the consumer or trader can walk out of such procedures at any time.
This is unless an agreement is reached between the parties. Such agreement can have the effect of a court judgement if it is registered at the court. |
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| Mediation | Mediation Rules | Law 158(I)/2012 – Law on Certain Matters Arising in Civil Disputes Law of 2012
Law 85(I)/2017 – Law on Alternative Dispute Resolution of Consumer Disputes |
What are the fees of the ADR procedures?
The costs of each procedure are the following:
The fees payable by the consumer and the trader vary depending on the ADR procedure used.
1. CONCILIATION
Filing Fees:
€20 non-refundable filing fee, to file the dispute with the Center.
Conciliation Fees:
| Amount of Purchased Goods or Services in Euro (€) | Consumer Fees in Euro (€) | Trader Fees in Euro (€) |
| Up to 500 | 20 | 80 |
| 501 — 2.000 | 40 | 160 |
| 2.001 — 10.000 | 80 | 320 |
| 10,001 -50,000 | 160 | 640 |
| 50,001 — 100,000 | 320 | 1280 |
| 100,001 — 500,000 | 640 | 2560 |
| 500,001 and over | 800 | 5120 |
All the above fees are exclusive of VAT and are payable prior to the initiation of the Conciliation.
The above fees are based on 8 hours of Conciliation. For every extra hour required for Conciliation there will be:
- an additional fee of €20 per hour for the Consumer and €80 per hour for the Trader for any disputes between €0 – €10,000.
- An additional fee of €40 per hour for the Consumer and €160 per hour for the Trader for any disputes over €10,000
- The maximum amount payable by the Consumer is €800
2. MEDIATION
Filing Fees
€20 non-refundable filing fee, to file the dispute with the Center.
Mediation Fees
| Amount of Purchased Goods or Services in Euro (€) | Consumer Fees in Euro (€) | Trader Fees in Euro (€) |
| Up to 500 | 20 | 80 |
| 501 — 2.000 | 40 | 160 |
| 2.001 — 10.000 | 80 | 320 |
| 10,001 -50,000 | 160 | 640 |
| 50,001 — 100,000 | 320 | 1280 |
| 100,001 — 500,000 | 640 | 2560 |
| 500,001 and over | 800 | 5120 |
All the above fees are exclusive of VAT and are payable prior to the initiation of the Mediation.
The above fees are based on 8 hours of Mediation. For every extra hour required for Mediation there will be:
- an additional fee of €20 per hour for the Consumer and €80 per hour for the Trader for any disputes between €0 – €10,000.
- An additional fee of €40 per hour for the Consumer and €160 per hour for the Trader for any disputes over €10,000
- The maximum amount payable by the Consumer is €800
3. ARBITRATION
Filing Fees
€20 non-refundable filing fee, to file the dispute with the Center.
Arbitration Fees
| Amount of Purchased Goods or Services in Euro (€) | Consumer Fees in Euro (€) | Trader Fees in Euro (€) |
| 500 to 10.000 | 25 | 100 |
| 10.001 and over | 30 | 120 |
All the above fees are exclusive of VAT and are payable on a per hour basis.
A deposit of two hours of Arbitration shall be paid immediately with the filing.
The above fees are based on one hour of Arbitration. For every extra hour required for Arbitration there will be:
- an additional fee of €25 per hour for the Consumer and €100 per hour for the Trader for any disputes between €0 – €10,000.
- An additional fee of €30 per hour for the Consumer and €120 per hour for the Trader for any disputes over €10,000.
- The maximum amount payable by the Consumer is €1000
In the cases of mediation and conciliation both parties can withdraw from the procedure prior to reaching an outcome.
Other expenses:
The expenses of the trader do not include the cost of using sites owned/leased/licensed by the Center to resolve the dispute. These expenses are chargeable at €100 per day + VAT in case facilities owned/leased/licensed by the Center are used. They are not payable in case the Trader is committed to ADR through an annual subscription to the Center or where the Center decides to exempt the Trader from such expenses.
Natural Persons in Charge of ADR
You can see the persons responsible for ADR by clicking on this link.
Can the consumer or trader withdraw from the procedure?
This depends on the procedure. In the case of arbitration, and provided that this has been agreed after the dispute arising, neither the consumer nor the trader can withdraw from the procedure.
In the cases of mediation and conciliation both parties can withdraw from the procedure prior to reaching an outcome.
When can we refuse to initiate the ADR procedure?
Not all disputes are subject to ADR by the Center. In the following scenarios, we will refuse to initiate an ADR procedure between the consumer and the trader:
- the consumer did not attempt to contact the trader concerned in order to discuss his complaint and seek, as a first step, to resolve the matter directly with the trader.
- We find the dispute to be frivolous or vexatious.
- the dispute is being or has previously been considered by another ADR entity or by a court.
- the value of an arbitration claim falls below €500.
- the consumer has submitted the complaint to us after one year from the date upon which the consumer submitted the complaint to the trader.
- dealing with such a type of dispute would otherwise seriously impair the effective operation of the Cyprus Consumer Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Where, in accordance with our rules we are unable to consider a dispute that has been submitted to us, we shall provide both parties with a reasoned explanation of the grounds for not considering the dispute within three weeks of receiving the complaint file.
Prerequisites to examining a complaint by the consumer
Generally, in order for us to be able to examine a complaint against a trader by the Consumer, the following 3 requirements must be satisfied:
- A payment of €20 must be made by the Consumer.
- The consumer must have filed his complaint within 1 year after the consumer has attempted to resolve the dispute with the trader.
- An attempt must have been made by the consumer to resolve the matter directly with the trader.
