Links und contacts regarding consumer protection
European Institutions
Our network of European Consumer Centres serves those who buy goods and services in the EU's internal market
https://www.eccnet.eu/
EISMEA manages the European Innovation Council around other EU programmes on SMEs, innovation and the single market.
https://eismea.ec.europa.eu/index_en
Umbrella organisation BEUC coordinates 45 European consumer protection bodies in 31 countries
https://www.beuc.eu/
European Commission consumer protection site in 11 official languages
https://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/justice-and-consumers_de
Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) of the EU Commission
https://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_food-safety/index_de.htm
Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers (DG JUST) of the European Commission
https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/departments-and-executive-agencies/justice-and-consumers_de
European Commission - Representation in Austria
https://ec.europa.eu/austria
Liaison Office of the European Parliament in Austria
https://www.europarl.at
Commission web portal for dialogue with citizens with countless guides and practical tips in all official languages
https://europa.eu/youreurope/index_de.htm
FIN-NET is the network for consumer complaints about financial services
https://finance.ec.europa.eu/consumer-finance-and-payments/retail-financial-services/financial-dispute-resolution-netwo…
SOLVIT is a platform for problem solving of companies or citizens with unlawful authorities
https://ec.europa.eu/solvit/site/index_de.htm
Europe Direct Info Points are regional low-threshold information points of an EU-wide network.
https://europainfo.at/
European Judicial Network in civil and commercial matters
https://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice
Consumer protection in Austria
The Association for Consumer Information (VKI) is the supporting organisation of the European Consumer Centre
https://www.vki.at
Legal department of the VKI publishes its activities independently
https://www.verbraucherrecht.at
Advice page of the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection
https://www.konsumentenfragen.at
Internet Ombudsman's Office informs about detrimental trends and new threats in the field of internet shopping
https://www.ombudsstelle.at
Watchlist Internet warns against Internet fraud and online traps and gives valuable tips for prevention
https://www.watchlist-internet.at
Chamber of Labour (AK) advises and operates its own websites of its provincial organisations
https://arbeiterkammer.at/beratung/konsumentenschutz/index.html
Cybercrime Helpline 01 4000-4006 offers free initial counselling on weekdays (7.30 a.m. - 5 p.m.) for suspected cybercr…
https://www.wien.gv.at/menschen/sicherheit/cybercrime-helpline.html
Out-of-court settlement
EU List of all European ADR bodies
https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/main/?event=main.adr.show2
Energie-Control-Austria (E-Control) settles disputes between energy companies and customers
https://www.e-control.at/schlichtungsstelle
The RTR's Telecom Conciliation Body is responsible for problems with telephone, Internet or broadcasting operators.
https://www.rtr.at/TKP/was_wir_tun/telekommunikation/konsumentenservice/schlichtungsverfahren/TKKS_Schlichtung.de.html
The RTR's Postal Conciliation Body is responsible for disputes with postal service providers and parcel delivery servic…
https://www.rtr.at/de/post/PKS_Schlichtung
Agency for Passenger Rights (apf) settles disputes in rail, bus, ship or air transport with reference to Austria
https://www.apf.gv.at/de/
The Banking Arbitration Board is responsible for disputes about obligations arising from a banking transaction with a c…
https://www.bankenschlichtung.at
The ÖIAT Internet ombudsman's office settles disputes on digital issues such as online shopping.
https://www.ombudsstelle.at/
The Ombudsman's Office for Prefabricated Housing is responsible for controversies concerning the purchase and construct…
https://www.ombudsstelle-fertighaus.org
Tourism Service Agency strives for goodwill solutions between travellers and the Austrian tourism industry (e.g. accomm…
https://www.bmaw.gv.at/Themen/Tourismus/gaesteinformationen/tourismusservice.html
Verbraucherschlichtung Austria mediates if none of the bodies listed above is competent.
https://www.verbraucherschlichtung.at/
Useful sources of information
The e-commerce liaison office in Austria is the Federal Ministry of Justice.
https://www.bmj.gv.at/service/e-commerce-verbindungsstelle.html
E-commerce liaison office in Germany is ZEV Kehl
https://www.ecommerce-verbindungsstelle.de/startseite/
Daily updated database of the Ministry of Justice on ongoing insolvency proceedings (edict file)
https://www.edikte.justiz.gv.at
Major German-language news agency
https://www.pressetext.com
Topic Consumer Protection at APA (Austrian Press Agency)
https://www.ots.at/t/konsumentenschutz
Page of the German Professional Association of Legal Journalists on the topic of copyright law
https://www.urheberrecht.de/
GISA input mask for querying e.g. authorisations for insurance and credit brokers and travel agents
https://www.gisa.gv.at/fshost-gisa-p/user/formular.aspx?pid=3e8b81d122df415db65b1ec312d5a452&pn=Be2102a48c44b427fa29b85…