Mandatory Mediation In Consumer Disputes

The Law Amending the Civil Procedure Law and Certain Laws No. 7251 (“Amendment Law”) added “Article 73/A”, titled “Mediation as a prerequisite”, to the Consumer Protection Law No. 6502 (“Consumer Protection Law”). With the amendment, mediation has been accepted as a prerequisite for lawsuits regarding disputes which are filed in Consumer Courts.

As a rule, applying to a mediator for consumer disputes before filing a lawsuit is mandatory from now on. However, the said provision regulates the exceptions as well. Applying to the mediation is not mandatory in the below-mentioned situations:

• Consumer disputes that are in the scope of the Consumer Arbitration Committee's duty (disputes involving monetary claims under TRY 10,390);