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Consumer Ombudsman’s Newsletter 2/2018 covers a travel and transport theme

22 May 2018

The transformation of transport has started in Finland, states Consumer Ombudsman Antti Neimala in his editorial. For consumers, one of the most important current changes is the liberalisation of the taxi market on 1 July 2018, when the new Act on Transport Services takes effect. Legislation related to package travel will also be thoroughly renewed during summer.

The Finnish Consumer Ombudsman’s Newsletter 2/2018 is travel and transport theme issue and it includes the following topics:

  • What will change? The taxi reform in a nutshell. The taxi markets in Finland will undergo major changes in summer 2018, as the Act on Transport Services will take effect on 1 July. At that point, the strict regulation of the number, price, quality and location of taxis will be abolished and prices and supply will be determined based on markets. We prepared a list of the key changes for consumers.
  • The right of withdrawal at an online car auction. Kamux Suomi Oy sold used cars to consumers through online auction websites. Kamux restricted the right of withdrawal for cars bought through this channel, even though customers should have been given the right, and also failed to provide information on the right of withdrawal in accordance with the law.
  • Consumer protection of package travel changes. Starting from 1 July 2018, the Act on Travel Service Combinations will replace the current Package Travel Act. The concepts that will be used are travel packages and assisted travel arrangements. There will be changes in cancellation right and receiving compensation. As is the case now, the consumer protection enjoyed by those who purchase only flights is not as extensive as that of the buyers of travel packages.
  • Expert article: Flight delays causing headache to consumers. Flight delays are a constant source of complaints in air travel. Of the complaints received by the European Consumer Centre Finland since the beginning of 2017, 65% are related to delays. Director Leena Lindström from ECC Finland writes about air passenger rights and organisations that can help consumer.
  • Interview: Consumer Ombudsman's status was strengthened in the 1990s. Antti Neimala, the current Consumer Ombudsman, met with Finland's second Consumer Ombudsman Erik Mickwitz as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Consumer Ombudsman institution in Finland. The early 1990s was a time of deep recession which was reflected in the problems that consumers were having, and an increasing number of consumers were contacting the Consumer Ombudsman.


Previous Consumer Ombudsman’s newsletter are in the Archive.
Newsletter 3/2018 will be published during summer 2018.