Consumer Protection and Consumer Rights

Vocabulary flashcards covering forms of consumer damage, the role and enforcement measures of the Slovak Trade Inspection (SOI), and the 8 basic consumer rights adopted by the UN General Assembly on April 9, 1985.

Direct damage (Priame poškodzovanie)

A form of consumer harm whose extent can be quantified directly in monetary units.

Indirect damage (Nepriame poškodovanie)

A form of consumer harm relating to quality defects, which can be quantified, for example, by the number of complaints.

Slovenská obchodná inšpekcia – SOI (Slovak Trade Inspection)

The inspection authority of the Slovak Republic that performs regular checks to prevent consumer harm and enforces legal consequences, primarily by issuing fines.

Criteria for setting inspection fines

The legal factors considered when determining a fine amount: the nature of the unlawful conduct, the seriousness of the matter, the method, the duration, the consequences of breaching obligations, and the degree of fault.

UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection (April 9, 1985)

A guideline adopted by the UN General Assembly that formulated the eight fundamental consumer rights.

Right to satisfaction of basic needs (Právo na uspokojenie základných potrieb)

The consumer right ensuring access to essential goods and services, covering food, housing, clothing, healthcare, education, and sanitation facilities.

Right to safety (Právo na bezpečnosť)

The consumer right to protection against products that pose a hazard or danger to human health or life.

Right to be informed (Právo byť informovaný)

The consumer right to obtain necessary information to make a responsible choice, as well as protection against fraudulent advertising and misleading product labeling.

Right to choose (Právo na voľbu)

The ability of a consumer to select the correct and suitable product or service from a wide assortment based on sufficient information.

Right to redress (Právo na nápravu)

The right of a consumer to complain about defects when purchasing poor-quality products or unsatisfactory services and to receive an adequate resolution to the complaint.

Right to advocate one's interests (Právo obhajovať svoje záujmy)

One of the fundamental rights of consumers allowing them to represent and defend their consumer interests.

Right to consumer education (Právo na spotrebiteľské vzdelávanie)

The consumer right ensuring that consumers are aware of their basic rights and responsibilities and know how to exercise them.

Right to a healthy environment (Právo na zdravé životné prostredie)

The consumer right to work and live in an environment that does not pose a threat to health and well-being.