The reform of civil law is intended to improve the work of the courts, but the introduction of another type of procedure is unlikely to serve this purpose.
Reform of the Act of 17 November 1967 Code of Civil Procedure 3 September was put into public consultation. The introduction of a separate consumer procedure in disputes with companies is a novelty. Until now, such proceedings have only been possible by a district court.
Under the amended law, proceedings may also be brought before the court competent for its place of residence. This is intended to encourage consumer rights, inter alia, by reducing travel costs.
With this solution, the evidence will be presented faster and it will be possible to conclude a settlement more quickly, although it can be noted that the situation may not be so good if we look at the number of cases that are charged with regional courts.
The justification for the project indicates an additional strengthening of the consumer’s position, which is intended to be "the rule that consumer treatment rules will apply also if the trader party to the proceeding has ceased to conduct business".
The amendment is intended to encourage settlements already at the trial stage in the district court. This is to be done by a record indicating that a trader who fails to attempt to resolve the dispute voluntarily or who participates in a bad faith will pay the costs of the process or even twice.
By Article 1561. [Instructing the parties to the likely outcome of the case], where necessary, at the sitting, the President may instruct the parties to the probable outcome of the case in the light of the claims and evidence made to date, which in practice will require the judges to have an exceptionally balanced position, not favouring the party's desire, and, in the skillful application of this possibility, may speed up the settlement.