When to complain to Rospotrebnadzor
Rospotrebnadzor (the Federal Service for Consumer Rights Protection) oversees consumer rights and sanitary standards. It is worth complaining if a shop sells expired food, a café breaks sanitary rules, no receipt is issued, extra services are forced on you, or information about the product or seller is withheld.
What has changed in inspections
Since 2022, unscheduled inspections are mostly carried out only where there is a threat to life and health. For other complaints, a warning is issued more often. Rospotrebnadzor cannot get your money back — for that you need a claim letter to the seller and the courts. But a complaint helps stop the violation and will be useful in court.
How to submit
- via Gosuslugi, the government services portal — «Жалоба на нарушение прав потребителей» (complaint about a breach of consumer rights);
- via the online reception on the Rospotrebnadzor website;
- by post or in person at the regional office where the organisation is located.
A reply is given within 30 days of the complaint being registered (Art. 12 of Federal Law No. 59-FZ). Anonymous complaints are not considered.
Filled-in example
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