Where can I apply for the extra-judicial resolution of the dispute?

For extra-judicial settlement of disputes, consumers can apply to the Dispute Resolution Commission, an independent collegial decision-making body that, based on a consumer’s application, resolves a dispute between a consumer and a seller or service provider.

Dispute Resolution Commission
Address: Rīgā, Brīvības ielā 55, LV-1010
Phone.: 65452554;
E-mail: ptac@ptac.gov.lv
Website

The activity of the Commission is provided by the Consumer Rights Protection Center. The Commission is a body for extra-judicial settlement of disputes in accordance with the Law on Resolution of Disputes with Customers. The head and members of the Commission should be independent and unbiased when considering a dispute and making decisions and should not be subject to orders or other influence. When resolving disputes, the commission shall apply the procedure established by the Consumer Protection Act.

The decision of the Commission is subject to voluntary execution within 30 days from the date of its entry into force. The Commission’s decision is advisory in nature and cannot be challenged or appealed. If the merchant does not fulfill the decision of the Commission, the Consumer Rights Protection Center may place information on the website in the Black List section about the actions of the merchant who does not comply with the Commission’s decision.

For more details on the Dispute Resolution Commission please refer to the links above. 

In the field of tourism in Latvia there is no specialized mediator for out-of-court settlement of consumer disputes other than the Commission for Dispute Resolution with consumers, but you can contact the following organizations in connection with some of the services offered through the Agency.

Ombudsman of the Latvian Association of Insurers
Address: Lomonosova iela 9, 23.kab., Rīga LV-1019
Phone: 67360898; fakss: 67360838
E-mail: office@laa.lv
Website 

Language for the application: Latvian
Language for the attached documents: Latvian, English and Russian
Cross-border complaint and attached documents are provided in Latvian or English. 

The Ombudsman considers only complaints from individuals regarding the decision of the insurer to pay insurance compensation or to refuse to pay it in relation to the reported case in accordance with the requirements of the Regulations of the Ombudsman.
 

The Ombudsman deals with disputes related to the following types of insurance: life insurance, health insurance, assistance, accidents, property, land transport insurance and general civil liability insurance (except professional civil liability) if the amount of insurance compensation for which the complaint is filed does not exceed the amount specified in the Regulations.

The decisions of the Ombudsman are advisory in nature. 
 

When filing a complaint, the applicant must place a deposit to the LAI account. If the Ombudsman leaves the complaint without consideration, it will be fully or partially satisfied, the deposit will be returned to the complainant. If the LAI Ombudsman terminates the case or completely dismisses the complaint, the deposit will not be returned. The amount of the deposit to be paid is determined depending on the size of the insurance indemnity for which the dispute arose, and is available on the Ombudsman's website.

For more information please refer to the link above. 

Ombudsman of the Latvian Association of Alternative Financial Services
Registration number 40008155027
Address: Vaļņu iela 5/1, Rīga, LV-1050
E-mail: ombuds@lafpa.lv
Phone: 67398277
Website

Dispute resolution is provided by a sworn advocate Gvido Bajārs, practice address: Bruņinieku iela 117-8, Rīga, LV-1009.

The Ombudsman considers client complaints in the areas of activity of LAAFS participants, including with regard to the actions of the service provider:

(a) consumer lending services provided by non-bank lenders (including remote loans, mortgage loans, leases and loans secured by movable property);
(b) services provided by pier-to-pier lending platform providers;
(c) services provided by payment organizations.

The Ombudsman provides for the resolution of cross-border disputes in its fields of activity, including disputes covered by Regulation (EC) No 524/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on the settlement of consumer disputes online.

The Ombudsman provides dispute resolution for clients of LAAFS members and clients of other service providers who have entered into an agreement with LAAFS for the provision of out-of-court dispute resolution services. A full list of service providers whose dispute resolution with clients is provided by the LAAFS ombudsman is available on the LAAFS ombudsman website.

Disputes are resolved free of charge. Application for dispute resolution: in Latvian, Russian, English. The Ombudsman offers a solution to cross-border disputes in Russian, English.

For more information please refer to the link above.