Organización de consumidores y usuarios – OCU
About
First established in 1975, OCU is the oldest consumer organisation in Spain. It now has more than 300,000 members who have access to a range of general publications and issue-specific magazines on health and personal finances. OCU also provides personalised advice services and carries out advocacy actions to further the interests of all consumers at the national, European and global levels.
Success Stories
1) Legal actions:
Apple: The admissibility of the OCU’s law suit
- https://www.ocu.org/organizacion/prensa/notas-de-prensa/2022/apple031022
- https://www.ocu.org/organizacion/prensa/notas-de-prensa/2022/apple190522
Allergan: New legal action against Allergan for the damage of their prosthesis
- https://www.ocu.org/organizacion/prensa/notas-de-prensa/2022/protesisal…
- https://www.ocu.org/organizacion/prensa/notas-de-prensa/2022/protesis02…
2) Other actions:
- Spanish Antitrust Authority sanctioned a gas distributor company with 9.2 million euros, thanks to the information provided by OCU
- OCU demands Spanish airlines to accept cash payment on board
- Samsung: Official complaint at the Antitrust Authority and the Consumption Authority
- We achieved the the Spanish Bank Authority asked the entities to comply with the transfer of bank accounts
OCU has been very active against festivals’ abuses:
- https://www.ocu.org/organizacion/prensa/notas-de-prensa/2022/japanweeke…
- https://www.ocu.org/organizacion/prensa/notas-de-prensa/2022/festivales…
- https://www.ocu.org/organizacion/prensa/notas-de-prensa/2022/festivalso…
- https://www.ocu.org/organizacion/prensa/notas-de-prensa/2022/festivales…
- https://www.ocu.org/organizacion/prensa/notas-de-prensa/2022/madcool120…
- https://www.ocu.org/organizacion/prensa/notas-de-prensa/2022/festtoledo…
- https://www.ocu.org/organizacion/prensa/notas-de-prensa/2022/festivales…
MyHeritage: Sanctioned by the Data Protection Authority thanks OCU’s complaints
3) Best practices
We can highlight the collective settlements. On 2022 we have started 7 settlements (Viagogo, Farmaferoles, SFAM, Emma Colchones, DrSmile, Implika, Kviku). 6 have been positive (90%). We achieved: (i) a meeting with the company, (ii) a direct channel for sending the complaints of our members and (iii) a pledge of a revision and solution in 30 days.
Facts
- Founded in 1975
- A BEUC member since 1978
- Staff in 2018: around 200
- Members: 227.385