Public awareness initiatives by the UOKiK

Warsaw, 5.11.2012

Information & educationalactivities undertaken by the UOKiK

Following the rule — prevention better than cure — UOKiK undertakes numerous initiatives in order to enhance the legal and economic awareness of all market participants.

— Małgorzata Krasnodębska-Tomkiel, the President of UOKiK

Activities addressed at:• consumers• businesses • local authorities• media

These projects are conducted with the help of several communication tools.

Information & educationalactivities undertaken by the UOKiK

The educational and information activity of the Office is set out in:

-the Consumer Policy Strategy (currently for 2010-2013) comprises the framework and lists the priorities;

- the Act on competition and consumer protection.

It is also reflected in the organisation structure of the Office –the actions are undertaken by the Communication Unit and Press Office within the International Relations and Communication Department.

Surveys as the basis of educational and information activities

Aim: • to recognise the level of legal and economic awareness, attitudes and market behaviours of Polish consumers and businesses;• to form the basis for preparing education and information campaigns.

Selected serveys run by the Office:• Consumer on the financial services market;

• Awareness of consumer rights and analysis of barriers preventing consumers from safe and satisfactory participation in the market;

• Survey of the third age consumers;• Consumers on the telecommunication market.

Activities/selected campaigns

•Social campaigns;•Legal advice offered by the NGO’s and financed by the UOKiK•Consumer helpline

•Publications (leaflets, brochures, guidelines)

•Advertising: TV ads, outdoor campaigns, press supplements

•Series of TV programmes, radio broadcasts

•Expert advice features in magazines

•Press releases, events, conferences, seminars, workshops

•Ongoing cooperation with the media

•Website: www.uokik.gov.pl

Internet education

”Consumer” TV Programme

•3 editions (2004, 2005, 2006)•Financed and monitored by the UOKiK•Broadcast on public TV, prime time•Issues discussed:

Basic consumer rightsHow to enforce consumer rightsInstitutions delivering legal adviceBank services, payment cardsTelecommunication services Travel and airline services

”Don’t let them rip you off” Outdoor compaigns in 2005 and 2007

•3 nationwide campaigns •Aim: to promote consumer ombudsmen •364 local consumer ombudsmen provide free of charge consumer advice and legal assistance•Results: significant increase in the numbers of consumers approaching the ombudsmen for help

”Why fight like cats and dogs” Billboard campaign

•Nationwide campaign•Aim: to inform consumers on consumer arbitration courts•Why:

76 % Polish consumers never heard of themonly 38 % of businesses are eager to undergo arbitrationfast, cheap and effective way of solving disputes

”You can…” TV ad

•Aim: to promote consumer ombudsmen •Broadcast on national TV, December 2007, May 2008•Free of charge broadcasting on commercial channels

„Be the conscious consumer”Educational campaigns for senior consumers in 2008 and 2011

•Aim: to provide seniors with knowledge on how to avoid fraudulent commercial practices• Why:

group especially vulnerable to unfair practices hampered access to information/knowledge

• Tools: lectures run by consumer ombudsmen, psychologists and policemen, held at Third Age Universities leaflets, calendar, brochures, gadgets

participants: 3 000 people

Funding Consumer Organisations

The Consumer Policy Strategy envisages continued cooperation with consumer organisations NGO’s.

One of most efficient tools of enhancing consmer awareness is funding the activities undertaken by the NGO’s.

They receive financial support from UOKiK’s budget to implement consumer projects commissioned by the Office, e.g.:

- providing consumers with free legal advice;

- operating a consumer helpline;

- providing consumers with legal assistance via e-mail (e-advice centre);

- conducting information and educational campaigns;

- issuing a leaflet for consumer ombudsmen.

www.uokik.gov.pl

Thank you

www.uokik.gov.pl

Anna JanowskaDeputy Director

Relations and Communication Department+48 22 55 60 273dzk@uokik.gov.pl