KEPKA

KEPKA is a non-governmental, non-profit, independent consumers' organisation. The establishment of KEPKA in 1982 was exclusively a private initiative due to strong concern over the lack of a clear consumer protection policy in Greece and the disparity between it and protection levels in other EU Member States.

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 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.

• During 2021, we received 2,582 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.

• Founded in 1982
• A BEUC member since 1984
• 2 staff members and 25 volunteers
• Members in 2021: 10,181
• Consumers advised: 9,834 contacts
• www.kepka.org