The Budapest Conciliation Board (BCB), is an alternative dispute resolution (ADR.) forum which helps consumers and businesses (companies, traders, service providers) to settle their consumer disputes out of court. Its main goal is to reach an agreement between the parties, so that the legal dispute between them ends to the satisfaction of both parties.
If a problematic issue arises between a "buyer" and a "seller" regarding the purchase of a product or the use of a service, and he is unable to resolve his consumer complaint directly with the business, he can contact the Budapest Conciliation Board for assistance and legal representation. The conciliation board procedure is free of charge, fast and professional.
In Hungary the operation of conciliation bodies (county, capital) gained a legal basis with the promulgation of the Consumer Protection Act, and they could start their activities from 1 January 1999. The Financial Mediation Board, which deals with insurance and banking consumer complaints, has been operating independently of them since 2011.
These conciliation boards are independent bodies operated by county (capital city) chambers of commerce and industry, and their competence includes alternative dispute resolution of individual consumer disputes.
The business has an obligation to cooperate which means that the business is obliged to submit a rescription for the conciliation board hearing, moreover, the representative of the business is obliged to appear at least online, otherwise the consumer protection authority will impose a fine on it.
From 1 January 2024 the following 8 regional conciliation boards have been operating nationally. Due to a change in legislation there is a conciliation board administration available in 27 towns – since the beginning of the year consumers have been able to settle their relevant matters in regional centres, in county seats that are not regional centres, and in cities with county rights that are not considered county seats as well.
Regional conciliation bodies and their online contact adresses:
1. Baranya County Conciliation Board (Baranya Vármegyei Békéltető Testület, territorial jurisdiction for: Baranya, Somogy, Tolna),
Web page: www.baranyabekeltetes.hu
2. Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County Conciliation Board (Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén Vármegyei Békéltető Testület, territorial jurisdiction for: Borsod-Abaúj- Zemplén, Heves, Nógrád),
Web page: www.bekeltetes.borsodmegye.hu
3. Budapest Conciliation Board (Budapesti Békéltető Testület, territorial jurisdiction for: Budapest),
Web page:www.bekeltet.bkik.hu
4. Csongrád-Csanád County Conciliation Board (Csongrád-Csanád Vármegyei Békéltető Testület, territorial jurisdiction for: Csongrád-Csanád, Bács- Kiskun, Békés), Web page: www.bekeltetes-csongrad.hu
5. Fejér County Conciliation Board (Fejér Vármegyei Békéltető Testület, territorial jurisdiction for: Fejér, Komárom-Esztergom, Veszprém),
Web page: www.bekeltetesfejer.hu
6. Győr-Moson-Sopron County Conciliation Board (Győr-Moson-Sopron Vármegyei Békéltető Testület, territorial jurisdiction for: Győr-Moson-Sopron, Vas, Zala) ,
Web page: www.bekeltetesgyor.hu
7. Hajdú-Bihar County Conciliation Board (Hajdú-Bihar Vármegyei Békéltető Testület, territorial jurisdiction for: Hajdú-Bihar, Jász-Nagykun- Szolnok, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg),
Web page: www.hbmbekeltetes.hu
8. Pest County Conciliation Board (Pest Vármegyei Békéltető Testület (territorial jurisdiction for: Pest),
Web page: www.pestmegyeibekelteto.hu
