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Consumer Rights Protection

Course developer

Course abstract

Students get a general idea of the concept of a consumer, consumer rights and the legal framework for consumer rights protection in Latvia and the European Union. Students are familiarised with the institutional system for consumer rights protection, the idea of a consumer complaint and consumer legal requirements. Students gain knowledge of consumer rights when concluding contracts, the compliance and safety of goods and services, the procedures of submitting and processing consumer complaints, the availability of information on goods and services and requirements for the labels of goods.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Students will be able to demonstrate:
KNOWLEDGE of
1. The concept of consumer rights and the knowledge of the institutional system for consumer rights protection in Latvia, the relevant legal frameworks in Latvia and the EU - discussions in classes;
2. Consumer rights when concluding contracts, the compliance and safety of goods and services, requirements for the labels of goods, the nature and kinds of unfair commercial practices, dispute settlement and liability in the event of infringement – a test.
SKILLS to
1. Demonstrate close familiarity with the legal framework for consumer protection and apply the acquired knowledge to protect their consumer rights - group work, presentations;
2. Ensure compliance with the legal framework for consumer protection in business - group work, independent work;
3. Discuss consumer protection-related matters and problems with other students - group work;
4. Present the results acquired – a presentation, a report.
COMPETENCES to
1. Independently solve typical consumer rights infringements – a test.

2. Independently and effectively apply the acquired knowledge and skills in the field of consumer protection – a test.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Introduction to consumer protection, the relevant legal framework. (1 h lecture)
2. Institutional system for consumer protection. (1 h lecture)
3. Compliance of goods and services with the terms and conditions of the contract and consumer claims. (2 h lectures, 2 h practicals)
4. Unfair contract terms and conditions, a contract analysis. (2 h lectures, 2 h practicals)
5. Distance contracts, a contract analysis. Independent work – to assess the compliance of online shops with the requirements of the relevant legal framework (1 h lecture, 2 h practicals)
6. Contracts concluded outside the place of permanent economic or professional activity, a contract analysis. (1 h lecture, 2 h practicals)
7. Contracts of complex and related tourism services, a contract analysis. (1 h lecture, 1 h practical)
8. Consumer credit contracts, a contract analysis. (2 h lectures, 1 h practical)
9. Prohibition of unfair commercial practices and the regulatory framework for advertising. (2 h lectures, 1 h practical)
10. Test. (1 h practical)
11. Conformity and safety of goods and services. Corrective activities for ensuring consumer rights. (1 h lecture, 1 h practical)
12. Compliance of prices of goods and services with the requirements of the regulatory framework. A study on compliance with price display rules. Independent work – to assess the compliance of prices set with the requirements of the relevant legal framework (1 h lecture, 2 h practicals)

13. Product labelling. Independent work – to analyse a product label. (1 h lecture, 2 h practicals)

Requirements for awarding credit points

The final assessment consists of the following pieces of assessment:
• one test;

• three pieces of independent work.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Independent work 1 – to assess the compliance of two freely chosen online shops with the requirements of the relevant legal framework.
Independent work 2 – to assess the compliance of prices set with the requirements of the relevant legal framework.
Independent work 3 – to analyse a product label.
All the pieces of independent work must be submitted and presented within the specified time only.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The final mark is calculated as the arithmetic mean of the marks for the test and the three pieces of independent work, with each being worth 25% of the total mark.

Compulsory reading

1. LR likums “Patērētāju tiesību aizsardzības likums” Pieņemts 18.03.1999.
2. LR likums “Preču un pakalpojumu drošuma likums” Pieņemts 07.04.2004.

3. LR likums “Negodīgas komercprakses aizlieguma likums” Pieņemts 22.11.2007.

Further reading

1. LR likums “Patērētāju ārpustiesas strīdu risinātāju likums” Pieņemts 18.05.2015.
2. LR likums “Informācijas sabiedrības pakalpojumu likums” Pieņemts 04.11.2004.
3. LR likums “Reklāmas likums” Pieņemts 20.12.1999.
4. LR likums „Par atbilstības novērtēšanu” Pieņemts 08.08.1996.
5. LR likums „Par atbildību par preces un pakalpojuma trūkumiem” Pieņemts 20.06.2000.
6. LR likums „Par Sabiedrisko pakalpojumu regulatoriem” Pieņemts 19.10.2000.
7. LR likums “Pārtikas aprites uzraudzības likums” Pieņemts 19.02.1998.
8. LR likums “Ģenētiski modificēto organismu aprites likums” Pieņemts 15.11.2007.
11. LR likums “Administratīvās atbildības likums” Pieņemts 25.10.2018.
12. MK 20.05.2014. noteikumi Nr. 255 “Noteikumi par distances līgumu” .
13. MK 21.10.2014. noteikumi Nr. 648 „Noteikumi par distances līgumu par finanšu pakalpojumu sniegšanu”.
14. MK 26.06.2018. noteikumi Nr.380 “Noteikumi par kompleksa un saistīta tūrisma pakalpojuma sagatavošanas un sniegšanas kārtību un kompleksu un saistītu tūrisma pakalpojumu sniedzēju un ceļotāju tiesībām un pienākumiem”.
15. MK 25.10.2016. noteikumi Nr.691 “Noteikumi par patērētāja kreditēšanu”.
16. MK 18.05.1999. noteikumi Nr. 178 „Kārtība, kādā norādāmas preču un pakalpojumu cenas”.
17. MK 14.02.2006. noteikumi Nr. 119 „Kārtība, kādā preču ražotājs, izplatītājs vai pakalpojuma sniedzējs informē attiecīgās valsts uzraudzības un kontroles iestādes par precēm vai pakalpojumiem, kuri rada risku, kas nav savienojams ar vispārējām drošuma prasībām”.
18. MK 22.02.2005. noteikumi Nr. 142 „Pārtikas un veterinārā dienesta nolikums”.
19. MK 03.08.1999. noteikumi Nr. 273 „Apavu izstrādājumu marķēšanas kārtība”.
20. MK 29.02.2000. noteikumi Nr. 78 „Stikla izstrādājumu marķēšanas noteikumi”.
21. MK 15.02.2011. noteikumi Nr. 132 „Rotaļlietu drošuma noteikumi”.

22. Vītoliņa B. Patērētāju tiesību aizsardzības pamati: Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2015, 374 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

Patērētāju tiesību aizsardzības centra mājas lapa: http://www.ptac.gov.lv/

Notes

Elective course for other LLU bachelor programmes.