About us

Internet Ombudsman - Cost-free and instant help for online consumers

The increasing success of e-commerce calls for a specialised consumer protection service for online shoppers facing problems.

Since 1999 the Austrian Internet Ombudsman has been offering information, mediation and alternative dispute resolution for consumers and companies. Altogether more than 16.000 consumer complaints have been solved successfully. Only in the year 2008 Internet Ombudsman dealt with 10.009 cases which lead to cost savings of 853.000,- euros for consumers.

Internet Ombudsman offers an instant, unbureaucratic and cost-free service – also for a small amount of loss. Consumers can contact the Internet Ombudsman day and night on the website www.ombudsmann.at. They receive a personal access to a case management tool, where they can track the progress of their complaint. As additional service a watch list warns consumers of problematic websites.

The project is run by the Austrian Institute for Applied Telecommunications and funded by the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection (BMASK) and the Chamber of Labour (AK).

Imprint

Internet Ombudsmann - Verein zur Förderung der außergerichtlichen Streitschlichtung im Internet
c/o ÖIAT (Austrian Institute for Applied Telecommunication)
Adress: 1050 Wien, Margaretenstraße 70/2/10
Tel: +43 1 595 21 12-0 (9 am to 5 pm)
Fax: +43 1 595 21 12 99
E-mail: kontakt@ombudsmann.at
ZVR-Zahl (registration No): 763634009
Association register: http://zvr.bmi.gv.at/Start
DVR (data processing register): 0942758
VAT No: ATU 49875407

Holder, editor, publisher: Internet Ombudsmann - Verein zur Förderung der außergerichtlichen Streitschlichtung im Internet
Chairman: Bernhard Jungwirth
Managing director: Bernhard Jungwirth
Cashier: Franz Haslinger

Purpose of the association: To operate an ADR-system for online consumer complaints and inform about online consumer protection
Legal form: Non-profit association (Registration number (ZVR-Zahl):  763634009
Competent authority: Bundespolizeidirektion Wien, 1010 Wien, Schottenring 7-9
Main orientation of the medium: Promotion of an ADR-system for consumer complaints, to provide informations about safe online shopping and internet related questions