Consumers Defence Association of the Czech Republic (SOS)

SOS:

• is an independent, non-governmental and non-profit consumer organization. It was founded on 1st February 1993. SOS has legal status as civic association. It's mission is to protect consumer's interests in domains of an individual consumer is not sufficient.
  
  
• is active on the Internet Since 1998. Our site "World of consumers" at www.spotrebitele.info publishes news, advice, laws and brings other special services. Foreigners can make use of the multilingual site www.consumers.cz.
  
  
• provides information and recommendations on how to proceed in situations that are most hazardous for consumers in the form of leaflets, brochures and CD-ROMs.
  
  
• is a member of world consumer organization Consumers International and of the European Consumer's Organisation BEUC. Through their presence at seminars, workshops, congresses and electronic conferences SOS representatives actively share their experiences internationally.
  
  
• since its creation in 1993, SOS publishes its own magazine called "Shield of consumer".
  
  
• gives the consumer public a possibility to obtain information about consumer rights and to consult specific consumer cases in personal consulting centres, in guidance service on Internet sites and by the phone.
  
  
• is an open civil association and welcomes new members whether they are interested only in moral support of our activities or they want to participate in SOS projects.
  
  
• comments draft laws and novels of existing laws in areas relevant for consumer interests.
  
  
• attempts to guarantee that consumers meet only safe goods and services on the market. In doing so, SOS tries to push consumer voice in the area of technical standardisation, which could represent an effective way of making goods and services consumer-friendly.
  
  
• considers obvious that only safe food is allowed on market and that consumers have right to detailed information about what they eat.
  
  
• is for development of consumer education including integration of important information about protection of consumer rights and interests into syllabus at primary and secondary schools. This is why SOS develops cooperation also with pedagogic faculties.
  
  
• Complex consumer protection
  
  
• With its limited resources SOS acts in consumer rights and interests protection at all market segments including financial services, electronic trade, telecommunications, protection against natural monopolies, healthy environment etc.