Bait and Switch Pricing
Advertised price unavailable and a more expensive item pushed instead.
What to do
Report to your national consumer protection authority. If the trader is abroad, use the EU ODR platform (EU/EEA) or econsumer.gov (international) for cross-border cases.
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Browse the examples libraryAuthorities & dispute bodies for this claim
Find your country below and contact the relevant body — many accept complaints via an online form.
EU-wide
1EU Online Dispute Resolution Platform
Plattform zur Online-Streitbeilegung (OS-Plattform)
EU-wide online platform routing disputes between EU consumers and traders to the correct national ADR body. Free. Works for all 27 EU member states plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. All EU traders must display link to this platform.
Global
1econsumer.gov — International Consumer Complaint Network
econsumer.gov (ICPEN)
International platform operated by FTC with 35+ ICPEN member countries. Specifically for cross-border online fraud, scams and seller deception. Reports shared with enforcement agencies in all member countries including CZ, US, UK, AU, CA, JP, KR.
Austria
1Federal Chamber of Labour — Consumer Protection
Arbeiterkammer Österreich — Konsumentenschutz
Austria's primary consumer protection body within the Chamber of Labour. Provides free legal advice and processes consumer disputes. Can take collective legal action on behalf of consumers.
Australia
1Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
ACCC
Australia's primary consumer protection and competition regulator. Enforces Australian Consumer Law (ACL) mandatory guarantees for goods and services. Investigates unfair contract terms and misleading conduct.
Brazil
1Consumer Protection Foundation
PROCON / Fundação de Proteção e Defesa do Consumidor
Brazil's consumer protection system. Use consumidor.gov.br (national portal) — 80%+ of registered companies respond. Each state has its own PROCON. Covers goods, services, financial, telecom, and digital products under Consumer Defence Code (CDC).
Canada
1Office of the Tourism and Consumer Services Ombudsman (BC)
OTS BC
Consumer protection authority for British Columbia. Handles online retail disputes, travel agencies, telemarketing, and debt collection. Each province also has its own consumer affairs office.
Switzerland
1State Secretariat for Economic Affairs — Consumer Affairs
Staatssekretariat für Wirtschaft (SECO) / Secrétariat d'État à l'économie (SECO)
Swiss consumer protection authority. Handles complaints about goods, online commerce and misleading advertising. Switzerland is not EU member so EU ODR does not apply; use national ADR bodies.
China
1State Administration for Market Regulation
国家市场监督管理总局 (SAMR)
China's market regulator enforcing consumer rights. National consumer hotline 12315 (also app/website). Handles product safety, false advertising, e-commerce fraud. Accepts complaints against Chinese sellers and platforms (Alibaba, JD, Pinduoduo).
Czech Republic
2Czech Trade Inspection Authority
Česká obchodní inspekce (ČOI)
Primary Czech consumer protection authority. Inspects and fines traders for quality, safety, e-commerce and digital product violations. Acts as Czech ECC partner for EU cross-border cases.
European Consumer Centre Czech Republic
Evropské spotřebitelské centrum ČR
Free EU network service helping Czech consumers resolve cross-border disputes with EU/EEA traders. Mediates with foreign ECCs and the EU ODR platform. Ideal first stop for Czech claimant vs. any EU-based company.
Germany
1Federal Office of Justice — Consumer Dispute Resolution
Bundesamt für Justiz — Verbraucherstreitbeilegung (BfJ)
Germany's universal consumer arbitration board (Universalschlichtungsstelle). Handles disputes not covered by sectoral ADR bodies. EU ODR platform partner. Free for consumers.
Spain
1Consumer Affairs — Arbitration and Mediation System
Sistema Arbitral de Consumo (Juntas Arbitrales de Consumo)
Spain's Consumer Arbitration System — free, binding ADR for consumer disputes. Local Juntas Arbitrales handle claims. Also file via municipal OMIC (Oficina Municipal de Información al Consumidor).
France
1Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs & Fraud Control
Direction Générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes (DGCCRF)
French consumer and fraud control authority. Investigates unfair commercial practices, product safety and online fraud. Consumer-facing reporting via SignalConso portal.
United Kingdom
1Competition & Markets Authority
CMA
UK's primary consumer and competition authority. Investigates subscription traps, fake reviews, unfair terms. Enforcement only — does not resolve individual complaints. Report issues to build enforcement cases.
India
1National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
राष्ट्रीय उपभोक्ता विवाद प्रतितोष आयोग (NCDRC)
Apex consumer forum for disputes above ₹1 crore. State Commissions handle ₹1–10 lakh to ₹1 crore; District Forums below ₹1 lakh. All filings via eDaakhil portal. Covers goods, services, financial products, housing.
Italy
1Competition and Market Authority
Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM)
Italy's competition and consumer protection authority. Investigates unfair commercial practices, misleading advertising and e-commerce violations. Consumer complaints via online portal.
Japan
1National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan
国民生活センター (Kokumin Seikatsu Center)
Japan's primary consumer affairs centre. Provides ADR (alternate dispute resolution), consumer advice and processes complaints against businesses. National consumer hotline: dial 188.
South Korea
1Korea Consumer Agency
한국소비자원 (KCA)
Korea's national consumer agency. Handles all consumer complaints via hotline 1372. Provides counselling, mediation and class action support. Operates International Consumer Consultation Centre for cross-border disputes.
Mexico
1Federal Consumer Protection Office
Procuraduría Federal del Consumidor (PROFECO)
Mexico's consumer protection prosecutor. Handles all consumer complaints including online shopping, defective goods, telecom billing and travel. Can mediate, sanction and publish 'Quién es quién' rankings.
Netherlands
1Authority for Consumers & Markets
Autoriteit Consument & Markt (ACM)
Dutch consumer, competition and telecom regulator. Enforces consumer rights, telecommunications regulation and digital market rules. EU CPC network member for cross-border enforcement.
Norway
1Consumer Authority
Forbrukertilsynet
Norway's consumer authority. Enforces marketing and contract rules, monitors e-commerce and digital services. For individual dispute resolution, use the Consumer Council (Forbrukerrådet).
New Zealand
1Consumer Protection — Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
MBIE Consumer Protection
NZ consumer protection information and dispute resolution. Consumer Guarantees Act and Fair Trading Act apply. Disputes Tribunal handles claims up to NZD $30,000.
Poland
1Office of Competition and Consumer Protection
Urząd Ochrony Konkurencji i Konsumentów (UOKiK)
Poland's consumer protection and competition authority. Handles market abuse complaints and individual consumer disputes via free ADR network. EU CPC member for cross-border cases.
Sweden
1National Board for Consumer Disputes
Allmänna Reklamationsnämnden (ARN)
Sweden's national consumer ombudsman board. Provides free ADR for most consumer disputes. Decisions not legally binding but companies usually comply. Covers goods, services, digital products, travel, telecom.
Singapore
1Consumers Association of Singapore
CASE
Singapore's primary consumer advocacy and ADR organisation. Operates CaseTrust accreditation. Mediates consumer-business disputes. For e-commerce fraud also use Small Claims Tribunal.
United States
1Federal Trade Commission
FTC
Primary US consumer protection and antitrust regulator. Accepts complaints about fraud, deceptive practices, identity theft and digital/software violations. Uses reports to target enforcement — does not resolve individual disputes.
South Africa
1National Consumer Commission
NCC
South Africa's national consumer protection body under the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008. Handles complaints against suppliers. Can investigate, mediate and refer to National Consumer Tribunal.