Consumer Advice
Consumers have access to various sorts of advice and assistance from a number of sources.
Overview
Who does what?
What's the difference between the Consumer Spokesperson, the Consumer Agency and the Consumer Association?
The Consumer Agency is a governmental agency that monitors pricing, certifies meters and regulates advertisements, consumer loans, packaged tours, product safety, and electricity. The agency is responsible for receiving information if companies or professionals do not fulfil their obligations in accordance with the laws the agency is meant to enforce.
The Consumers' Association is an open association that works toward supporting a set of consumer-advocacy matters. These matters are determined independently by the organization and are not governed by any legislation. The association also operates a counselling and complaints service supported by the Ministry of Business Affairs, which is open to both members and non-members.
The Consumer Spokesperson is an official government office. The spokesman is meant to serve as an advocate for consumer rights, provide information on official regulations surrounding consumer issues and support increased consumer protection. The office is located within the Consumer Agency, but the Consumer Spokesperson is not bound by any outside directives, and therefore operates independently of ministers, other officials and organisations.
Consumer Advice
The Icelandic Automobile Association offers its members information, guidance and assistance in automobile ownership, buying and selling automobiles and maintenance.
The Ministry of Welfare handles renters' issues, among other matters. Its website includes information on renting housing, housing benefits, issues with apartment complexes, etc.
The Financial Supervisory Authority regulates financial and insurance companies, and provides consumers with guidance about the resources available to them in claiming their rights, including what entities handle appeals and have judicial powers when it comes to consumer matters.
Associaton of house and property owners offers its members information on home ownership, operating a household and renting housing out.
Housing Committees of municipalities offer general information and advice on housing matters and rental contracts.
Housing Financing Fund offers information on the Housing Affairs Complaint Committee for apartment complexes and rental matters as free counselling for people with financial problems and housing issues.
Household guidance centre offers advice and guidance on running a household, maintaining your home and purchasing appliances. Open Mondays and Tuesdays, 10:00 - 14:00, and Thursdays and Fridays, 14:00 - 17:00.
Lífsvog is an organisation against medical malpractice.
Sóltún 20, 105 Reykjavík, Tel. +354 552 3737
Open Wednesday, 13-16, símatími kl. 13-14.
Orator Legal Assistance is a service organised by law students offering free legal advice.
The service is open on Thursday evening, 19:30 - 22:00 on +354 551 1012. Operations begin in September every year and run until mid-April, except for December when law students take their departmental exams.
Legal aid watch offers free legal advice to the public.
Icelandic Food and Veternary Authority regulates food safety. This includes increasing food safety around animal by-products and agricultural health.
Sanitary control of municipalities receives complaints about food-safety conditions, product labelling, conduct in public spaces, noise pollution and negligence in maintaining neighbourhood property. Contact your the local office in your municipality for more information.
Data Protection Authority monitors the enforcement of personal privacy laws. Consumers who believe their private and personal information has been mishandled can bring the matter to the Office of Data Protection, which will adjudicate on the matter.
The Post and Telecom Administration receives complaints from consumers who believe that telecommunication companies and postal services have neglected their obligations. It is also charged with regulating terms and conditions for service providers and prices for universal service.
The Debtors´Ombudsman offers free counselling for people with serious financial problems who have run out of money.
Réttarheimild.is is storehouse of law reports, international agreements and decisions handed down from international courts. An official, public collection from the legislative, executive and judicial branches.
The Icelandic Competition Authority is meant to support an actively competitive business environment by working against inappropriate obstacles and limitations to free enterprise, working against detrimental monopolies and competition restrictions, and increasing new competitors' access to the market.
The Althing ombudsman monitors the administrative activities of the state and its municipalities.
The Environment Agency supports public welfare by advocating a healthy environment, as well as the sustainable use of natural resources and their protection.
