Centro Europeo del Consumidor en España

The ODR Platform  is an interactive, multilingual free web site which permits consumers and traders from the EU to resolve national and European (EU + Norway + Iceland + Liechtenstein) out-of-court disputes related to online purchases.

The procedure involves the channelling of the disputes to the Alternative Dispute Resolution bodies (ADR) who are connected to the Platform, aiming to resolve the controversy through arbitration or mediation, thereby avoiding court proceedings.

Businesses and traders who offer their products and services online are obliged to include an easily accessible link to the ODR Platform on their web page. They must also provide their e-mail addresses.

The European Consumer Centre for Spain (ECC ES) is the ODR Platform Contact Point in Spain. Our function is to provide information with respect to the use of the ODR platform, but in no event, do we influence the process.

The ODR platform allows the parties to submit claims by filling in an electronic form available in all the official EU languages (and in Norwegian and Icelandic) and offers them the option to attach the relevant documents.

The creation and development of the online dispute resolution Platform is set out in Regulation (EU) 524/2013  of the European Parliament and the Council.

• The ODR Platform  can be used by consumers resident in the EU zone (+ Norway + Iceland + Liechtenstein) provided that the trading company is based in the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
• Resolves disputes resulting from the contracting of a service or the purchase of goods, provided this has been online (excluding other modes of distance contracts).
• It is easy to use and accessible from any type of device. Consumers can complete the claims form on the Platform in three easy steps.
• Makes it easier for the whole process to be online.
• The ODR platform is multilingual: it includes a translation service to assist with those disputes in different European languages (EU + Norway +Iceland + Liechtenstein).

The Commission is working with Member States to obtain full cover for all the States and all the business sectors (excluding: health care and further education) as soon as possible. The alternative dispute resolution is a fast and economic way to resolve disputes.

These are the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) bodies  linked to the ODR Platform  to try to resolve the controversy through arbitration or mediation, thus avoiding court proceedings.

If you have a problem with a good or service that you have purchased online, you can use the ODR Platform  Platform to file a claim and resolved it by an independent dispute resolution body.

The steps to follow are:

1-The consumer or a representative, draws up a claim, attaches the relevant documents and sends it to the trader via the ODR Platform. Once sent, the consumer will receive a confirmation message.

Both the consumer and the trader must have their headquarters in the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

2- Once the involved trader agrees to use this procedure, consumer must select one or several Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) bodies from this list  -within 30 days.

3- The consumer can accept one of entities or ask for a new list to the company. Before accepting it, please consult all the information such as rates, geographic scope in which it acts as well as the procedure. If, within 30 days, the consumer does not accept an Alternative Dispute Resolution entity, the complaint will not be processed through the Platform.

4-Resolution of the dispute:

Once the complaint is resolved, consumer will receive a message with the solution.

More information.

Explanatory guide of the alternative Online Dispute Resolution.

If you have any questions, you can contact your national contact points. One of the advisors there will be able to answer your questions and guide you through the process of submitting your complaint.

The advisor can:

• Explain how this site works and what the dispute resolution bodies can do to help you.
• Help you communicate with the trader and/or the dispute resolution body handling your complaint.
• Help you submit your complaint (including which documents you need to attach to it).
• Give you general information on your rights.
• Advise you on other ways of resolving your dispute if this procedure doesn't work.

Postal Address: Calle Príncipe de Vergara 54, 28006. Madrid.

Email Address: cec@consumo.gob.es

Telephone Number: +34 91 822 45 55. Lines open from Monday to Friday. 9:00am – 14:00pm.

You can consult on this page,  in the "one to one support" section, the national contact points in every EU country.

European legislation

• Directive 2013/11/EU  of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 and Directive 2009/22/EC.
• Regulation (EU) No 524/2013  of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on online dispute resolution for consumer disputes and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 and Directive 2009/22/EC.

Spanish legislation. Laws

Law 7/2017 , 2 of November on the implementation of the Directive 2013/11/EU of the European Parliament and the Council of 21 May 2013, on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes.