The Financial Limits and Administrative Fines in the Consumer Protection Law Have Been Increased!
The new financial limits and administrative fines stipulated in the legislation about consumer protection for the year 2025 were published in the Official Gazette dated 20 December 2024, and have entered into force.
Changes Made by the Communiqué on Financial Limits:
The financial limits are increased annually by taking into account the re-evaluation rate determined according to the Tax Procedure Law, within the framework of the Consumer Protection Law and the Regulation on Consumer Arbitration Committees.
The purpose of this Communiqué is to define the increase in the financial limits that determine the jurisdiction of the Consumer Arbitration Committees. The financial limit for the last year was increased based on the re-evaluation rate of 58.46% announced last year. As a result, the financial limit for 2024 was set at TRY 104,000. Accordingly, in 2024, the Consumer Arbitration Committees had jurisdiction over disputes valued below TRY 104,000. The re-evaluation rate for 2024 is determined to be 43.93%. Accordingly, the financial limit for 2025 has been raised to TRY 149,000. With this new regulation, the Consumer Arbitration Committees will now handle disputes valued up to TRY 149,000.
As a result of the increase in the financial limit, consumers will have greater access to arbitration committees for a greater number of disputes, rather than resorting to the courts. This new regulation will come into effect on 1 January 2025, and from this date onwards, the Consumer Arbitration Committees will operate under the new limit.
Changes Made by the Communiqué on Administrative Fines:
The Communiqué on Administrative Fines redefines the administrative fines outlined in the Protection of Consumer Rights. These administrative fines are also increased annually based on the re-evaluation rate determined according to the Tax Procedure Law. As stated above, the re-evaluation rate announced for 2024 was determined to be 43.93% and the administrative fine amounts have been updated accordingly. This new legislation will come into effect on 1 January 2025, and from this date onwards, administrative fines will be imposed in accordance with the fine amounts set out in this Communiqué.
