Brussels, 08/01/2016 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission will, on Saturday 9 January, open its new online dispute resolution (ODR) platform to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) bodies before its official opening for use by consumers and traders on 15 February.
From that date, the platform will allow consumers and traders to settle their online disputes at the click of a mouse, both for domestic and cross-border purchases, without the need to go through lengthy and costly court proceedings.
The early opening, for alternative dispute resolution bodies only, will enable these ADR bodies to sign up to the platform and familiarise themselves with it.
“One in three consumers experienced a problem when buying online in the past year. But a quarter of these consumers did not complain - mainly because they thought the procedure was too long or they were unlikely to get a solution. The new online platform will save time and money for consumers and traders”, commented Justice and Consumers Commissioner Vera Jourova in a press release.
The platform complements the new digital contract rules proposed by the Commission a month ago to simplify and promote access to digital content and online sales across the EU (see EUROPE 11448).
The Commission hopes that it will strengthen consumer trust in online purchasing and thereby make an important contribution to the EU's Digital Single Market strategy, presented on 6 May 2015 (see EUROPE 11309). Currently consumer mistrust of online cross-border shopping is making the digital market the weak link in the single market, despite the vast potential it holds. This was clearly shown in the latest consumer market scoreboard, published in September of last year (see EUROPE 11393). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)