New duties for attorneys relating amendment to the Consumer Protection Act

The Amendment to Act no. 634/1992 Coll., On Consumer Protection applies now also to the attorneys. The Amendment (effective partly the from date of publication, i.e. from December 28, 2015) establishes the following duties 

- Provide information on the price of legal services as part of business communication. It is stipulated the price information (including the payment terms) is an essential consumer information. The same applies to the information on the right of the consumer to withdraw or terminate the obligation, if such right exist. 

- Issue a proof of services specifying the date of legal service at the request of the consumer. In case of complaints the attorney is obliged to issue a written statement confirming the date of the complaint. The confirmation shall also contain the contents of the consumer complaint and method of handling the claim chosen by the consumer. Public network may be used for communication with the client in case unusual operator rates are not charged to the client.

Another obligation imposed by law is effective from February 1, 2016:

- The attorney is obliged to inform consumers in a clear, understandable and easily accessible way about the existence of respective ADR body (including the Internet address of this body). In case attorney has a website, he must provide such information on this website, too.