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Services Directive
The European Consumer Centre provides information on consumer legislation and your consumer rights when availing of services in another EU member state, as well as furnishing consumers with contact details of other organisations that could be in a position to offer practical assistance in the case of a dispute.
The European Consumer Centre aims to assist consumers in making informed choices when availing of services across Europe, so that they will find it easier to choose a new and unfamiliar service provider and thus be more confident when dealing in the internal market.
We can offer you advice on the following:
- What to check before availing of services in another member state
- Your legal rights if there is a problem
- Contact details of agencies that will offer you further assistance
The Directive on Services in the Internal Market ("Services Directive") was transposed into Irish law in November 2010 and seeks to increase consumers' confidence when availing of services offered by businesses from anywhere within the EU. It achieves this by ensuring that, regardless of where the consumer and business are located within the EU, consumers have access to a minimum level of information and access to a complaints procedure.
The Services Directive was transposed into Irish Law by: S.I. 533 of 2010 in November 2010.
The European Consumer Centre in Ireland (ECC Ireland) offers free information about European consumer legislation and assistance in the resolution of cross-border disputes. The centre is also involved in various pan-European projects. ECC Ireland is part of a network of 29 centres in Europe working together to resolve consumer disputes in an amicable manner.
As the European Consumer Centre has no enforcement or sanctioning powers, the resolution of consumer complaints will ultimately depend on the trader's willingness to cooperate and reach an amicable resolution with our office.
Due to the vast amount of services covered by the Services Directive information is gathered on a case by case basis. If the information you require is not available on our website please contact ECC Ireland and we will gather the information you require free of charge.
Website: www.eccireland.ie
Email: ebyrne@eccireland.ie
Phone: 00353 1 8797647
Fax: 00353 1 8734328
The ECC is not in itself a dispute resolution or enforcement body. Under the ambit of the Services Directive, ECC Ireland's remit is to provide advice where possible and to act as a referral service where needed - the following case illustrates this.
A consumer engaged the professional services of a solicitor/barrister and now has serious concerns about the individual in relation to his lack of a practising certificate and professional indemnity insurance. We referred them to the Law Society of Ireland.
The Irish Point of Single Contact (PSC) is a facility to make it easier for service providers to access their chosen markets in Ireland. The PSC connects service providers with the necessary competent authorities and helps them to complete all relevant procedures. If you require further information or assistance from the PSC, you may contact them at:
Internal Market Unit,
Department of Enterprise Trade and Innovation,
Room 307,
Kildare Street,
Dublin 2.
Email: info@pointofsinglecontact.ie
Tel: 353 (0)1 631 3878
Web: http://www.pointofsinglecontact.ie/
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