Hallå konsument (Hello Consumer) is a national information service coordinated by the Swedish Consumer Agency. It will have consumer advisors available to answer questions related to consumer purchases as well as information on consumer rights, personal finance or how to make sustainable choices, it said.
It has been set up in collaboration with twelve other government agencies and consumer organisations, including the National Food Administration, and the central supervisory authority on food and drinking water.
Sweden has separate municipalities and consumer agencies for consumer advice and support but Hello Consumer will help group most consumer-related issues under one umbrella. “More than half million Swedes lack guidance on consumer issues... Hello Consumer will provide independent and easily accessible information to consumers,” it said.
The purpose of the information service is to also make things easier for consumers by giving them “quick and useful answers to help them make informed choices”, it added.
Some of the organisations it has collaborated with include the Swedish Consumer Agency, Swedish National Board for Consumer Complaints, Swedish Consumer Energy Markets Bureau and Swedish Consumers' Insurance Bureau, among other municipal consumer organisations.
Services offered
Consumers will be able to seek guidance on questions including the purchase of goods and services, contracts, claims, sustainable choices and contract terms and conditions, it said.
“Our consumer guides will answer questions or help put consumers in touch with experts from other governmental authorities, consumer agencies or municipal consumer advice organisations,” it said.
The service will allow consumers to find information online (hallakonsument.se) or by phone, live chat, email or Facebook.
More information about Hello Consumer can be found at www.hallakonsument.se.