On 10 July 2023, the Maltese Parliament resolved in favour of several amendments to the Consumer Affairs Act. These amendments serve two purposes.
Firstly, the Consumer Claims Tribunal can now hear consumer claims of up to €10,000. This amendment represents a significant increase in the value of the claims that can be heard by the arbiter given the previous threshold of €5,000. This means that consumers can now opt to go to the Tribunal rather than initiate Court proceedings for a greater number of cases.
Secondly, provision has now been made for the use of video conferencing in Tribunal proceedings which should facilitate the taking of evidence in consumer cases.
It is hoped that both amendments will contribute to better efficiency in dealing with consumer claims, and consequently faster case resolution.
Disclaimer: This document does not purport to give legal, financial or tax advice. Should you require further information or legal assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Dr Annalies Muscat.