Must a dispute with a trader go to court?
It need not — court is the last step, not the first. Start with the seller: they must reply to a consumer's written application within 15 working days. If the reply does not satisfy you, the next step is the Consumer Dispute Resolution Commission — an independent collegiate body that resolves the dispute on your application. The timescales: the commission decides within 90 days of receiving all the documents it needs; in a complex dispute the chair may extend that to one year. The decision must be implemented within 30 days of taking effect.
📋 The rules
- Start with a written application to the seller
- They must reply within 15 working days
- Then — the Consumer Dispute Resolution Commission
- The decision: within 90 days
- Implementation: within 30 days
🔓 Exceptions
- In a complex dispute the period can be extended to one year, with notice to the parties
- The decision may set a longer implementation period than 30 days
- The route to court remains open even after the commission process
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The biggest mistake is giving up after the seller refuses. Many assume the next step is court — and therefore do nothing at all. But before court there is the commission: independent, collegiate, and free for the consumer. Prepare properly: submit a written application to the seller, and keep the receipt, the correspondence and the reply — or the evidence that no reply came. Fifteen working days of silence is itself an argument. And allow for time: the commission decides within 90 days, or up to a year in a complex case. The route to court stays open afterwards.
📎 Official sources
- PTAC · Consumer Dispute Resolution Commission →
- PTAC · Individual dispute resolution →
- likumi.lv · Consumer Rights Protection Law →
❓ Frequently asked
Where do I start?
With a written application to the seller or service provider themselves. They must reply within 15 working days. Silence is itself an argument at the next stage.
What if the reply does not satisfy me?
The dispute can go to the Consumer Dispute Resolution Commission — an independent collegiate body that resolves it on the consumer's application. Court is not the only route.
How long does the commission take?
It decides no later than 90 days from receiving all the documents needed for the decision. In a complex dispute the chair may extend that period to one year.
How quickly must the decision be implemented?
Within 30 days of taking effect, unless the decision itself sets a longer period. That is substantially faster than an ordinary court process.
Can I still go to court afterwards?
You can. The route to court remains open even after the commission process. The commission is a faster and cheaper attempt, not a barrier to litigation.
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