Kuluttajakelpoisuus

Kuluttajakelpoisuus is a concept in Finnish consumer protection discourse that refers to whether a person who makes a purchase can be regarded as a consumer under Finnish and European law. It determines which contracts and conduct are protected by consumer protections such as information duties, the right of cancellation, remedies for defective products, and rules against unfair terms. In practice, kuluttajakelpoisuus means that the buyer acts primarily for private, non-professional purposes rather than for business or professional aims.

The concept applies to transactions where the buyer is a private individual or acts for private purposes. Purchases made for business, trade, or professional use typically fall outside the consumer protection regime. The classification can influence the applicability of cooling-off periods, withdrawal rights, warranty regimes, and the enforceability of contract terms. In some cases a person may be protected in one transaction but not in another, depending on how the goods or services are used.

Legal basis and institutions: The main Finnish framework is the Consumer Protection Act (kuluttajansuojalaki) and related EU directives, which establish the rights and remedies available to consumers. The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (Kilpailu- ja kuluttajavirasto, KKV) supervises and enforces compliance, while courts interpret and apply definitions of consumer status in disputes.

Notes: The term is often used descriptively in legal texts and scholarly work to indicate eligibility for consumer protections. It is not a single formal category beyond the broader definitions of a consumer in applicable law, and its boundaries may evolve with new rules and case law, particularly in online and cross-border transactions.