New Law on Consumer Protection by end-2019 – Salespersons will be forbidden from phoning citizens

Citizens might soon be protected from everyday phone calls made by aggressive salespersons offering their products by calling landline and mobile phone numbers, which, as Blic writes, will be enabled by the Law on Consumer Protection, which is expected by the end of the year.

The draft law has gone through the process of a public discussion and now needs to be approved by the government, following which it will be put before the parliament. The law is harmonized with the EU acquis, as defined in Chapter 28.

According to the draft law, salespersons will no longer be allowed to send messages or make phone calls to consumers listed in the register of consumers who do not want to receive calls and messages within promotional campaigns and phone sales campaigns. The procedure of registration, the conditions and the manner of the use of the register are regulated by the minister.

However, Goran Papovic, the president of the National Organization of Consumers, says for Blic that this part of the law will be regulated by bylaws, which are not yet adopted and which he does not expect to be adopted any time soon, which means that the list will not be formed in the foreseeable future either.

The law also envisages RATEL running a special register listing the phone numbers of those who don't want to receive offers by salespersons by phone, thereby protecting their privacy.

This also means that salespersons need to check whether a phone number is in the register before making a call or sending a message.

The law also envisages the solving of disputes between salespersons and consumers through out-of-court settlements.

Nacionalna organizacija potrošača Srbije NOPS

RATEL Beograd

Goran Papović

Law on Consumer Protection

phone sales

out of court settlement

salespersons

consumers