ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR CONSUMERS IN TURKEY: THE NEED FOR ENHANCING CONSUMER DISPUTE RESOLUTION THROUGH ONLINE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Abstract

In recent years, consumer spending has dominated the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The continuously increasing consumer spending boosts the possibility of consumer disputes. In Turkey, there is still a need for enhanced consumer redress, although there is a continuing attempt to bring Turkish consumer law into line with the European Union (EU) legislation to meet the needs of our digitised society. This paper explores the powers and deficiencies of the Turkish Consumer Redress System and examines the judicial process to the implementation of consumer access to justice. This article evaluates the resolution of consumer disputes and analyses the EU ODR regime and best practices seeking for models to be followed by Turkey. The research of ODR and its applicability in consumer disputes proposes assembling instructions for outlining a new legal framework and establishing an effective ODR platform for resolving consumer disputes in Turkey.