What is a Consumer Court?
First, it is necessary to distinguish between the concepts of Consumer Court and Consumer Arbitration Committees, which are often confused. Consumer Courts are special courts operating under independent judiciary and serving to remedy the grievances of consumers in their purchases. Consumer Arbitration Committees are special committees that can impose sanctions up to a certain amount, operate under the district governorate in their district, and are established to resolve low-value issues experienced by consumers. Their aim is to prevent Consumer Courts from dealing with unnecessary workload by resolving small problems. The right to apply to consumer courts is granted for the resolution of problems related to any goods and services purchased. However, if the amount of the purchase in dispute is 1,200 Turkish Lira or less, you can apply to the consumer arbitration committees located in the district governorate building you are affiliated with, instead of the consumer courts. Since applying to consumer arbitration committees is easier and processes are carried out more quickly, consumers generally prefer this option in the first instance.
How Can I Apply to the Consumer Court?
To apply to consumer courts, you can grant power of attorney to a lawyer affiliated with the bar association, or you can apply to the court yourself in person. For this, it is sufficient to apply to the competent court with your petition. The petition should be written directly to the court authority, include the name, title, address, and contact information of the plaintiff and the person, organization, or institution against whom the lawsuit is filed, and the subject of the lawsuit should be explained in detail. If there is evidence, it should also be attached to the petition and submitted to the court. Then, by paying the determined fees and various expenses related to the lawsuit, a court date is set and the process is initiated. The decisions of the consumer arbitration committee are final, and the person or institution against whom the decision is made is obliged to implement it. However, both the consumer and the seller against whom the decision is made have the right to take the decision to the consumer courts, which are the superior courts, and to object to it.
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