Association/ Union
Acronym
ΚΕ.Π.ΚΑ.
Founded in
1982
Address
Vasileos Irakleiou 32, 54642, Thessaloniki
consumers@kepka.org
Phone number
2310233333
2310 269449
Webpage
Organization's page in other social networks
https://www.facebook.com/kepka.org
Description of the organization
KEPKA is a non-governmental, non-profit, independent consumers' organization.
The establishment of KEPKA, in 1982, was exclusively a private initiative, due to a strong concern on the lack of a concrete consumers' protection policy, in Greece and the difference between the level of protection in Greece and that of the other Member States of the EU. This concern was shared among all the founding members. All these years, we have been trying to raise consumers’ knowledge of their rights, in Greece and protect consumers’ rights.
Our main activities are raising consumers' conscience, protecting consumers' rights, informing consumers on products, services, economic interests, health, nutrition, environmental protection, human rights, ethics and urging the Greek Government to develop a consumer policy towards the improvement of the quality of the consumers' and citizens' lives.
KEPKA
KEPKA has neither commercial activities nor any income coming from political parties, organizations or enterprises. The members' contribution (annual subscription), governmental and EU grants are the only financial sources of the organization.
KEPKA is administered by a 9-member board. Its members are elected by the members of KEPKA, through general voting, every three years.
All members of the Board are volunteers, they do not get paid by KEPKA, they devote their free time to our organization. KEPKA is represented by the President and the General Secretary.
KEPKA represents consumers at local level, at the Amicable Dispute Resolution Committees of the Metropolitan Municipality of Thessaloniki and the Consultation Committee of the Municipality of Thessaloniki.
At national level, KEPKA represents consumers at the National Consumer and Market Council, the Economic and Social Committee, and the Hellenic Food Authority.KEPKA is a member of Consumers’ International (CI), of the European Consumers’ Organization (BEUC), of European Organization for Standardization (ANEC), of Transatlantic Consumers’ Dialogue (TACD). From 2004 to 2007, our President was the Coordinator of the National Consumer Council, which is a committee advisory to the Ministry of Development. From February 2010, to July 2016 our Gen. Secretary was a member of the European Consumer Consultative Group (ECCG), from September 2010 to September 2020 she was member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), from November 2010 till April 2018 she was Vice President of Single Market Observatory in EESC and from April 2018 until September 2020 she was Vice President of the Section Transport – Energy – Infrastructure and Information Society in EESC. From February 2012, until September 2020, the President of KEPKA is Alternate Member in the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). From 2013, until 2015 and from 2016 until 2018 the President was a Member of the Executive Committee of Economic and Social Council of Greece.
Actions that the organisation has organised or in which it has actively participated
• During 2021, we received 2582 questions and complaints from consumers. We intervened to businesses, for 432 cases so that an out of courts solution of the complaints was reached. 86,11% of these cases were solved in favor of consumers. This resulted to consumers’ refunds with 169.850,86 euros by banks, by insurance companies, by various enterprises for remedies for defective products, by beauty institutes, by telecommunication providers, by energy providers etc.
• In 2021, the General Consumers Secretariat, imposed 70.000 euros fine on a company that sold fuels and it breached consumers’ rights. The fine was imposed after a complaint put forward by KEPKA.
• In 2020, the General Consumers Secretariat, imposed 340.000 euros fines, on 3 e-shops, for breaching consumers’ rights, for distance sales (300.000 euros, 30.000 euros and 10.000 euros, respectively). The fines were imposed after KEPKA put forward consumers’ complaints.
• In 2011, we won a collective action against the Prefecture of Chalkidiki. The Prefecture imposed a special tax on holiday houses, built in Chalkidiki by non-residents of the Prefecture. This tax was illegal as only the state can impose taxes in Greece. We fought this case in front of the courts for almost 10 years. The illegal tax was annulated by the Council of State in 2022, and 55.000 owners of holiday houses in Chalkidiki were saved of around 3.000.000 per year.
• In 2008, we boycotted a big Greek dairy company, because they had raised the prices of their products (yogurt, milk, cheese etc). Also according to KEPKA’s surveys the prices in Greece were higher than those in other European countries. We kept on the boycott for 2 months. Finally, they cancelled the price increases.
Volunteering opportunities provided by the organization.
KEPKA offers volunteering opportunities for everyone to support actions related to consumer rights.Registration period: all year round!
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