Consumer Law under the Law No. 6502 on Consumer Protection

Scope and Purpose of Law No. 6502

The basic condition for such consumer transactions to fall within the law is that one of the parties to the legal relationship is a consumer and the other is a seller, provider, or a natural or legal person acting on their behalf. Since the consumer represents the weaker party within the framework of the contract performed, the fundamental aim of consumer protection is the legislator’s intention to protect the consumer and, by granting the consumer certain rights, to place the consumer at least on an equal footing with the other party.

Law No. 6502 essentially regulates matters relating to taking measures that protect the health, safety and economic interests of consumers, compensate their losses, ensure their protection from environmental hazards and inform and raise awareness among consumers, encouraging consumers’ initiatives to protect themselves, and promoting voluntary organisation in the formulation of policies on these matters.

• Health and safety
• Economic interests
• Compensation for losses
• Protection from environmental hazards
• Information and awareness-raising

No exhaustive list has been laid down for the consumer contracts listed in the Law No. 6502 on Consumer Protection. Indeed, every kind of consumer contract may fall within the scope of the Law. In order to determine the nature of a contract, the purpose for which it was concluded is important.

The Consumer’s Elective Rights in Respect of Defective Goods and Services

Consumer law grants the consumer 4 different elective rights where the consumer encounters a defect in the service or goods purchased. First, however, we consider it useful to explain what the concept of ‘defect’ stated in the law means.

Namely, if the goods or services sold do not have the characteristics they should essentially have, for example if they lack one or more of the characteristics stated on the packaging, label, promotional material and user manual, on the internet or in advertisements and announcements, or if they do not incorporate the promised characteristics, the goods or services purchased by the consumer defective goods olarak kabul edilmektedir.

The 4 different elective rights available to the consumer where the goods or services purchased are defective are listed in the Law as follows:

• The right to rescind the contract,
• The right to request a reduction in the sale price,
• The right to request repair,
• The right to request replacement of the goods with defect-free equivalents

Upon the consumer’s mere notification, the seller or provider is obliged to fulfil this request.

Recourse in a Dispute: Arbitration Committee and Court

If a dispute arises, the consumer has the right to apply to the Consumer Arbitration Committee or the Consumer Court within the framework of the monetary thresholds updated every year.

• Provincial or District Consumer Arbitration Committee
• Consumer Court

For 2025, applications may be made to the Provincial or District Consumer Arbitration Committees in consumer disputes with a value of less than TRY 149,000 (one hundred and forty-nine thousand Turkish lira).

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