For residents of Leiden, the Disputes Commission is an accessible option to resolve conflicts between consumers and businesses. It provides a straightforward alternative to the Leiden District Court, with decisions that are binding on both parties.
What is the Disputes Commission?
This independent organization resolves disputes between consumers and affiliated businesses across various sectors. In the Leiden region, you can use it for issues with local or national providers, and it's often faster than a process at the Leiden District Court. There are commissions for different industries, tailored to everyday purchases and services.
Sectors
In Leiden and surrounding areas, Disputes Commissions are active for sectors such as:
- E-commerce (online stores and webshops)
- Housing (including local furniture and kitchen stores)
- Vehicles (car and bike dealers in the region)
- Travel (travel organizations for holidays from Leiden)
- Telecom (providers for mobile and internet)
- Energy (energy suppliers for households)
- Construction (contractors for home renovations)
Conditions
- The company must be a member of the relevant industry organization
- You must have first submitted a complaint directly to the company
- The issue must not be older than typically one year
- The dispute must not already be under review at the Leiden District Court or elsewhere
Procedure
- Submit your complaint via degeschillencommissie.nl or seek advice from the Legal Aid Office in Leiden for help with preparation
- Pay the complaint fee (between €25 and €125, depending on the sector)
- The company receives the complaint and can respond
- A hearing may follow, sometimes held digitally or locally in the region
- Receive a binding decision that is enforceable
Binding Advice
The commission's decision is final and binding, much like a ruling from the Leiden District Court. An appeal is only possible in the regular court under strict conditions, such as procedural errors.
Costs
The costs are limited to the complaint fee, which remains affordable. If the outcome is favorable, this fee is typically refunded. You don't need your own lawyer; for free advice in Leiden, you can contact the Legal Aid Office in Leiden or the municipality for additional support.
Veelgestelde vragen
Wat is mijn retourrecht?
Bij online aankopen heb je 14 dagen retourrecht zonder opgaaf van reden, tenzij de wettelijke uitzonderingen gelden.
Hoe lang geldt de wettelijke garantie?
Goederen moeten minimaal 2 jaar meewerken. Defecten die binnen 6 maanden ontstaan worden verondersteld al aanwezig te zijn.
Kan ik rente eisen over schulden?
Ja, je kunt wettelijke rente eisen (momenteel ongeveer 8% per jaar) over het openstaande bedrag.
Wat kan ik doen tegen oneerlijke handelspraktijken?
Je kunt klacht indienen bij de consumentenbond, de overheid of naar de rechter gaan.
Wat is een kredietovereenkomst?
Een kredietovereenkomst regelt hoe je geld leent, wat de rente is, en hoe je dit terugbetaalt.