Harmonization of the Three Main Pillars in Order to Realize the Value of Balance in Consumer Protection

Abstract

This research work is a dissertation; it is socio-juridical in nature. It studied and discussed secondary materials of legislations in the form of manual and electronic literatures of law, relevant law research results, particularly in the field of consumer protection, and other relevant written materials. It also examined legal facts of consumer protection and their impacts on the general public. The aims of this research work are as follows: 1) To describe the idea of “Value of Balance” in the Consumer Protection Act; 2) To describe the responsibilities of involved parties (consumers, businesses and government) in order to create a state of balance in the consumer protection process; and 3) To describe the roles of four supporting pillars in the realization of balance in consumer protection.The results of this research revealed that: 1) The value of balance in the Consumer Protection Act is based on the synergy between the rights and obligations of consumers, the rights and obligations of business actors, the duties and responsibilities of the government, the support of both public and private agencies, efforts at consumer dispute resolution, and the supervision of standard contracts; 2) The rights, obligations, and responsibilities of consumers, businesses, and the government were not fully realized. This means that the mandate of the statutory provisions in the field of consumer protection was not achieved; hence, balance was not achieved; 3) The four supporting pillars (government's efforts, consumer protection agencies, the use of standard contracts, and consumer dispute resolution) did not help to realize balance in consumer protection.

Keywords: Harmonization, Value of Balance, Consumer Protection.