The Disputes Committee offers residents of Zoetermeer a simple way to resolve disputes with companies. It is an accessible alternative to the Zoetermeer Court, with decisions that are binding for both parties.
What is the Disputes Committee?
This independent organization resolves conflicts between consumers and affiliated companies in various sectors. For Zoetermeer residents, this is ideal for local purchases, such as with online shops or construction projects in the region. There are committees for different industries, and you can seek advice from the Zoetermeer Legal Aid Office for support.
Sectors
In Zoetermeer and surrounding areas, there are Disputes Committees active for sectors such as:
- E-commerce (online stores, popular in the city)
- Housing (furniture and kitchens from local suppliers)
- Vehicles
- Travel
- Telecom
- Energy
- Construction (relevant for housing projects in Zoetermeer)
Requirements
- The company must be a member of the relevant industry organization
- You must have first submitted a complaint to the company itself
- The issue must not be older than usually one year
- The dispute is not already ongoing at the Zoetermeer Court
Procedure
- Submit your complaint via degeschillencommissie.nl or seek help from the Zoetermeer Legal Aid Office
- Pay the complaint fee (between €25 and €125)
- The company receives the complaint and may respond
- A hearing may follow, sometimes digital for convenience in Zoetermeer
- Receive a binding decision
Binding Decision
The decision binds both you and the company. Appeal is possible to a limited extent at the Zoetermeer Court, only on specific grounds such as procedural error. For more information, you can contact the Zoetermeer Municipality or the Legal Aid Office.
Costs
The costs are limited to the complaint fee, which you often get back if successful. No lawyer is required, but the Zoetermeer Legal Aid Office offers free initial advice to residents.
Veelgestelde vragen
Wat is mijn retourrecht?
Bij online aankopen heb je 14 dagen retourrecht zonder opgaaf van reden, tenzij de wettelijke uitzonderingen gelden.
Hoe lang geldt de wettelijke garantie?
Goederen moeten minimaal 2 jaar meewerken. Defecten die binnen 6 maanden ontstaan worden verondersteld al aanwezig te zijn.
Kan ik rente eisen over schulden?
Ja, je kunt wettelijke rente eisen (momenteel ongeveer 8% per jaar) over het openstaande bedrag.
Wat kan ik doen tegen oneerlijke handelspraktijken?
Je kunt klacht indienen bij de consumentenbond, de overheid of naar de rechter gaan.
Wat is een kredietovereenkomst?
Een kredietovereenkomst regelt hoe je geld leent, wat de rente is, en hoe je dit terugbetaalt.