More and more citizens and institutions are resorting to the Consumer Ombudsman in recent years.

“The Consumer Ombudsman has managed to win the trust of both consumers and suppliers, not only as a fast and efficient dispute resolution body, but, above all, as an integral enforcer of consumer protection legislation”, said the Consumer Ombudsman Lefteris Zagoritis , handing it over to the Speaker of the Parliament, Konstantinos Tasoula annual report of the Authority, for the events of 2023.

“Proof of trust is the quadrupling of cases in these years. From 4,372 reports in 2013, we reached 16,709 in 2023 (282% increase) while the great upward trend continues in 2024, where in the first eight months 12,592 reports have already been submitted, which are 27.8% more than the reports of the corresponding period last year. These reports also include those received by the -under the authority of the Authority- European Consumer Center of Greecewhich to date has helped thousands of citizens to amicably resolve their cross-border disputes with European suppliers”, said the Consumer Advocate.

During the delivery of the report, Mr. Zagoritis said that this year’s annual report of the Consumer Ombudsman, apart from detailing the Authority’s work carried out during the previous year, also marks the completion of the second consecutive – and last – term of.

“I am very honored that for a decade I have been at the helm of an Authority that has proven that it stands by the citizen and solves problems: More than 120,000 petitions have been submitted during my tenure. 80% of consumer disputes, which we have mediated objectively and impartially, have been settled within an average of three months. Taking a quick review of this long period, I can recall the participation of the Consumer Advocate in numerous consultations of crucial legislative texts (Code of Consumer Ethics, Code of Ethics of Banks, Regulation of General Licenses and Regulation of General and Special Licenses of postal companies of EETT, incorporation of Directive 2013/11/EU on the alternative resolution of consumer disputes, etc.), the submission of decisive proposals for the facilitation and financial relief of consumers (suspension of the adjustment clause in electricity bills, proposal to restructure housing loans in Swiss francs, transparency of bank fees, interception of inadvertent subscriptions to subscription services of five-digit high-cost multimedia information numbers, acceptance of electronic means of payment at toll booths, etc.), as well as our substantial interventions to combat serious fraud phenomena (unfair commercial practices of online stores, illegal operation of stem cell storage banks, etc.)”, said Mr. Zagoritis and expressed his belief that citizens are well aware of the positive contribution of the Consumer Advocate in solving the problems of their daily lives and that the Consumer Advocate has managed to win the trust of both consumers and suppliers, not only as a fast and efficient dispute resolution body, but, above all, as an integrity enforcer of consumer protection legislation.

“I must praise the conscientiousness and professionalism of the scientific and administrative staff of the Authority, who, in conditions of long-standing understaffing, have gone above and beyond to maintain the quality of mediation services and the service of citizens at high levels. And, of course, to give credit to the members of the Authority’s administration, valuable helpers in its smooth operation. We owe warm thanks to the president of the Parliament, Mr. Konstantinos Tasoula, and to his predecessors for the trust with which they have consistently surrounded the Authority all these years. We also want to express our satisfaction, because all the governments have completely respected the independence of the Authority, which has been able to function undividedly and with dedication to the effective fulfillment of its responsibilities”, said Mr. Zagoritis and added: “Personally, I still want to thank the former Prime Minister, Mr. Antonis Samaras, who chose me in 2014 for the position of Consumer Advocate in a very difficult – financially and politically – situation. And, of course, the current Prime Minister, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who renewed his trust in me, a sign of appreciation and recognition of the work done in the Independent Authority. I am sure that the Consumer Advocate will continue with an even more intensive pace the production of useful work for the citizens, the market, but also for the country’s economy”.

The President of the Parliament, Konstantinos Tasoulas, thanked Mr. Zagoritis for the submitted timely Report, which he will forward to the competent Committee of the Parliament, and at the same time congratulated him on his ten-year fruitful tenure at the Authority, which upgraded its role and prestige for the benefit of the consumer.