Consumer protection in sales transactions in Hungary

Abstract

Sales transactions are the basic and most frequent transaction consumers conclude in their everyday lives. Therefore, it is very important to know what rights consumers have, and which procedures and remedies are available when their rights are infringed. The paper aims to give a comprehensive overview of consumer protection issues arising out of the sales contract in Hungary, from the advertising activity, via the contract itself, and until the enforcement of consumer’s rights. Attention will be given even to consumer education and information, as important tools for making smart purchase choices. Since a wide range of issues will be covered the paper aims to give a structured summary of consumer’s rights, remedies, institutions, enforcing mechanisms, procedures and educational and information tools and methods. The approach of the paper is original as the protection of consumers is analyzed from both civil and criminal law point of views. Besides focusing onto consumer protection in Hungary in general, the paper will present some unique practical data from a smaller territorial unit, the city of Szeged.