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Legal advice

This website contains general information about the rules and regulations that you need to comply with. With this information, you can assess yourself whether or not you comply with the law. ACM explains the law, but does not offer any legal advice, and does not assess individual cases.

Explanation of the rules

On our website, we explain the rules regarding competition, consumer protection, energy, telecom, postal services, and transport. These are the rules and regulations that ACM enforces. If the information is unclear or if you have any questions, please contact us.

Are you a consumer, and do you have a problem regarding a non-business purchase? And you are unable to come to an agreement with the company in question? Please contact ACM’s consumer information portal ACM ConsuWijzer (in Dutch).

In what situations do we refer you elsewhere for legal advice?

If you need legal advice regarding your specific situation, we will refer you to others. Also, some topics may seem to be within our remit, but actually are not, for example:

  • You have made a business purchase, and the item broke down too soon;
  • You and another business disagree about a contract or a service that has been delivered;
  • You, as a business, rent equipment from a company, and lose revenue because of a malfunction;
  • You, as a business, incur financial harm as a result of a failure of another business.

For these and similar legal questions, we refer you to a legal professional.

What are your options for legal advice?

When seeking legal advice, you have different options:

Company lawyer

Does your company have a company lawyer? Find out what they can do to solve your legal problems and questions.

Trade associations and employers’ organizations

Are you a member of a trade association or an employers’ organization? They often have lawyers who are specialized in dealing with specific questions. Find out more about trade associations at ‘ Doing business in the Netherlands’.

Complaints boards

Would you rather not go to court? Another option would be the complaints board. A ruling will be handed down to which all parties need to adhere. Find out more about the Dutch Foundation for Consumers Complaints Boards.

Mediator

Mediation means that all parties and a professional mediator will work towards finding a solution to the situation. Find out more about mediation (in Dutch).

Legal-expenses insurer

Have you taken out legal-expenses insurance for businesses? A legal-expenses insurer often has lawyers and counsellors who can help you in legal proceedings. Ask your insurer for more information.

Lawyer

You could hire a lawyer. They know the law, and are able to give your specific advice about your rights and obligations. If necessary, they can also help you go to court. Find out more on the website of the Netherlands Bar (NOvA).

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