Options for out-of-court resolution of consumer disputes in Slovakia and the EU.
Under Act No. 391/2015 Coll. on alternative consumer dispute resolution, a consumer has the right to contact an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) body if the seller has responded negatively to a complaint or has not responded within 30 days of its submission.
Before submitting an ADR proposal, the consumer must demonstrate that they have attempted to resolve the dispute directly with the seller.
The competent alternative consumer dispute resolution body for disputes arising from sales contracts concluded online is the Slovak Trade Inspection (SOI).
Slovak Trade Inspection, Central Inspectorate, Department of International Relations and Alternative Consumer Dispute Resolution, Bajkalská 21/A, 827 99 Bratislava 27. Website: www.soi.sk, e-mail: ars@soi.sk.
An ADR proposal can be submitted electronically at www.soi.sk or by post to the address above. The proposal must include the identification details of the consumer and the seller, a description of the dispute and the remedy sought.
The European Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform was shut down on 20 July 2025 and no longer accepts submissions. It has been replaced by an information hub of the European Commission at https://consumer-redress.ec.europa.eu/dispute-resolution-bodies_en?prefLang=sk&etrans=sk, which directs consumers to the competent ADR body in their country.
Consumers in the Slovak Republic continue to be served by the Slovak Trade Inspection listed above, including in cross-border disputes. Free assistance with disputes involving a trader from another member state is also available from the European Consumer Centre Slovakia.
Using alternative dispute resolution does not exclude the consumer's right to bring a claim before a competent court. Court proceedings may be initiated at any time alongside or after an ADR process.
