Honduras | Amendment by Addition to the Consumer Protection Law

Sandra Izaguirre, associate in Honduras expert in Administrative Law, shares this article on how the reform to the Consumer Protection Law in Honduras aims to regulate consumer relations, protect consumers, and establish penalties for noncompliance. 

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) established guidelines aimed at Consumer Protection, emphasizing fundamental principles to ensure good business practices. One of these principles is Commercial Conduct, which stipulates that companies must avoid subjecting consumers to illegal, unethical, discriminatory, or deceptive practices, such as abusive marketing tactics, excessive debt charges, or other inappropriate actions that could endanger or harm consumers. 

Similarly, the National Congress of Honduras has introduced amendments to the Consumer Protection Law, strengthening guarantees for users of essential services. Among the new provisions, the following stand out: 

•Shorter Contracts: It is prohibited to induce, force, or condition customers to sign contracts for mobile or fixed telephony, cable television, and internet services for a period exceeding six months. 

•Local Currency: Contracts and charges for mobile or fixed telephony, cable television, and internet services must not be conducted in any currency other than the Honduran lempira. 

•Penalty-Free Cancellation: Users may terminate contracts without additional costs in cases of service deficiencies, unauthorized changes, or unexpected tariff increases. 

•Elimination of Unjustified Charges: Providers cannot charge consumers for reconnection fees or service interruptions caused by the provider itself. 

•Benefits for Older Adults: A 25% discount is established for senior citizens and a 30% discount for those in advanced age, applicable to telecommunications services with a maximum consumption of 30 gigabytes. 

The objective of this law is to safeguard, ensure, promote, and disseminate consumer rights by regulating consumer relations in the market for the acquisition of goods and services. Additionally, it establishes applicable procedures, along with rights, obligations, violations, and penalties in this area. 

The information provided by ARIAS® is presented for informational purposes only. This information is not legal advice and is not intended to create, and does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking advice from professional advisers.