Starting of January 9, 2016 the Regulation on online dispute resolution for consumer disputes, the so called ODR regulation, shall be applied on the area of EU. The aim of the regulation is to facilitate for the consumers that make purchases on the Internet – in particular the cross-border purchases – to assert their rights in disputes with entrepreneurs.
The regulation provides for the establishment by the European Commission the internet ODR Platform (Online Dispute Resolution). It shall enable the consumer to make complaints and to refer the matters to entities in each member state that are involved in extrajudicial resolution of disputes – in Poland these are e.g. mediators.
The entrepreneurs will be obliged to inform the consumer of the ODR Platform, however the resolution of the dispute, as provided for in the regulation, shall take place only with the consent of both parties. If there is no consent, the consumer shall apply to the court on general principles.