About us

Cyprus Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution

Establishment

The Center has been established in 2018 and it is the largest ADR Center in Cyprus. The Center deals with disputes between businesses and it is also licensed 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 and arbitration 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 and Arbitration Rules aim to resolve disputes allows parties to gain a good understanding of the context of the proceedings. The Center accepts both domestic and cross-border disputes.

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.

About Us

The Cyprus Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution is an Alternative Dispute Resolution Entity:

Yes check.svg Notified to the European Commission,

Yes check.svg Approved Entity for the education and certification of Mediators by the Ministry of Justice and

Yes check.svg Arbitration Training Center,

Yes check.svg Co-funded by the European Union under the Consumer Programme 2014-2020

Yes check.svg Licensed by the Consumer Protection Service of the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry,

What we are

The Center is an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Entity. That is, we resolve disputes all disputes where the problem cannot be easily, quickly or effectively be resolved between the parties. All this takes place before the dispute ends up in Court.

We are also a Training Center for Arbitrators and for Mediators as we offer a 40-hour Mediation Training Programme approved by the Ministry of Justice.

Goal

Our goal is the final and out-of-court settlement of disputes, easily, without unnecessary costs and above all quickly.

What kind of disputes do we resolve?

We resolve any kinds of disputes but we are also licensed to resolve disputes between consumers and traders (B2C).

Who do we serve?

1. Traders

We serve Traders who have disputes with other Traders (B2B). We also serve traders whose customer is a consumer and has a complaint against them (B2C). Where Traders want to resolve their disputes with their customers quickly and confidentially, and at the same time they wish to keep their relationships intact, they agree to resolve disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution. This means that, when a customer, has a complaint that the Trader has not managed to resolve, the Trader informs the customer that s/he can contact our Center.

Any information we receive or exchange with the parties or on behalf of the parties are confidential and cannot be used in a court of law.

2. Consumers

We serve Consumers – Any consumer (i.e. a natural person) who has a complaint against a Trader (when this arises through a contract for the sale of goods or services), can contact us so that we can try to find a solution between him/her and the Trader. That is, we can mediate, listen to both sides and propose solutions to the parties.

3. Experts in Dispute Resolution

We serve Experts in Dispute Resolution – Individuals who wish to resolve disputes with our Center can register on our platform and in the event of disputes arising in their area of expertise, differences are referred to them in order to resolve them.

They may be asked to act as mediators, conciliators or arbitrators in accordance with the dispute.

4. Trainee Arbitrators and Mediators

We serve Trainee Arbitrators and Mediators – Individuals who are interested in becoming certified Mediators can do so through our Center. Our Center’s Mediation Program is the only one which offers training in Consumer Law (including banking law) and it is the only one co-financed by the European Union.

At the Cyprus Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution Our Purpose is to Resolve Your Disputes Easily, Quickly and at a Low Cost.

What is the Problem that We Solve?

We solve the problem of delay in dispute resolution, especially in matters which could be resolved quickly and easily between the parties and without the need for the parties to attend Court.

In this way:

Yes check.svg The parties to the dispute save money.

Yes check.svg The parties resolve their dispute quickly (within 90 days the latest).

Yes check.svg In most cases the relations of the parties remain intact.

Yes check.svg The process is confidential.

How it Works for Consumer Disputes:

Step 1

Submission of Complaint

The Consumer who has a complaint against a trader files the complaint with us through the online process or by sending us the relevant complaint form by fax.

Step 2

Payment of €20 Administrative Fee

A fee of €20 is paid for the examination of the complaint by the Consumer.

Step 3

Communication with the Trader

We contact the Trader and send to it the details of the complaint.

Step 4

Acceptance by the Trader

The Trader decides whether to accept the consumer’s request to resolve the dispute.

Step 5

Payment of Fees

If the Trader accepts the complaint, then the consumer and the trader pay the fees depending on the method of resolution and the value of the complaint.

No fees are charged to the consumer for financial disputes.

Step 6

Έναρξη Επίλυσης Διαφοράς

Ορίζουμε διαμεσολαβητή, συμφιλιωτή ή διαιτητή αναλόγως της διαφοράς και ξεκινά η διαδικασία όπου τα μέρη παρευρίσκονται μαζί με τον ειδικό στην επίλυση της διαφοράς με σκοπό εξεύρεσης λύσης.

How is a Complaint Filed?

There are three ways by which a complaint can be filed. The first one is through the online submission of the Complaint. The Consumer may also file our hard copy complaint form* and send it to us by fax or email. For any information or assistance in filing your complaint you can call us at 22519741 or contact us by email.

* We will send you the complaint form upon request.

Example

Marc has a complaint against the bank in relation to overcharges. The complaint cannot be resolved with the Bank and he refers the issue to our Center. The Center informs the Bank about the complaint in order to assist in resolving the dispute.