On-site consumer advice: Financial expert comments on the needs and offers of the consumer advice center in the Kleve district

On-site consumer advice: Financial expert comments on the needs and offers of the consumer advice center in the Kleve district

According to a report from rp-online.de, the NRW consumer advice center in the Kleve district has started working since July of this year and offers various mobile and digital offerings to advise and support consumers in the region. In the first five months there were already 290 legal consultations, 53 legal representations and 219 complaints, which shows a high need for consumer protection in the region.

The consumer advice center works locally with various cooperation partners, such as the VHS, Caritas, Diakonie or Arbeiterwohlfahrt, to offer advice and information on the topics of housing, media, health, leisure, finance, energy and the environment. Older people or citizens with a migrant background in particular are often overwhelmed by unwanted telephone advertising, internet orders or unfair business practices, with which the consumer advice center can help.

The consumer advice center in the Kleve district will be fully financed by the Kleve district until December 31st; from January 2024, the district and the state will share the costs. Financing is initially secured until 2025. The consumer advice center is equipped with one and a half positions in mobile consumer advice on site and half a position in the nationwide service center, and those seeking advice can call the central service number 40 hours a week or make inquiries online 24 hours a day.

The establishment of the consumer advice center in the Kleve district is therefore expected to have a positive effect on consumer protection in the region. Due to the increasing number of consultations and complaints, a growing awareness of the consumer advice center and intensive advisory activity can be seen, which can lead to increased transparency and legal certainty for consumers. In addition, the integration of cooperation partners and the expansion of the network will help to make advice even more accessible to consumers.