As per the Communiqué on Increasing the Jurisdictional Amounts in Consumer Arbitration, published in the Official Gazette on 26 December 2018 ("Communiqué"), the jurisdictional amounts for consumer arbitration have been raised by 23.73%, which is the standard revision rate for the year 2018 as determined by the General Communiqué on the Tax Procedure Law.
Based on the Communiqué, the authorities of proper jurisdiction are as follows:
a. County Consumer Arbitration Panels, where the amount in controversy is less than TRY 5,650.00,
b. In metropolises, Provincial Consumer Arbitration Panels, where the amount in controversy is between TRY 5,650.00 and TRY 8,480.00,
c. In city centers that are not metropolises, Provincial Consumer Arbitration Panels, where the amount in controversy is less than TRY 8,480.00, and
d. In counties located in provinces that are not metropolises,
Provincial Consumer Arbitration Panels, where the amount in controversy is between TRY 5,650.00 and TRY 8,480.00.
Consumers must first apply to Consumer Arbitration Panels with disputes that fall within the jurisdictional amounts mentioned above. If consumers file a lawsuit in Consumer Court with disputes that fall within the jurisdictional amounts mentioned above without first applying to the relevant Arbitration Committee, the lawsuit will be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
The amendment made to the jurisdictional amounts of Consumer Arbitration Panels will be effective as of 1 January 2019.
28 December 2018
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.