In which cases should the Commission refer the matter to the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF)?

Verified 02 February 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

If you have identified that consumer law is not respected in a shop, on a website or in a company or if you have a consumer or competition question, you can contact the DGCCRF. We present to you the missions of this directorate, if you can ask it to open an investigation and if it has the power to sanction.

The DGCCRF is a department of the Ministry of Economy. He is responsible for ensuring the right respect for consumer law by the companies.

Example :

  • Ensuring customers’ right to terminate
  • Prohibition of false advertising and false discounts
  • Obligation to label goods
  • Sincerity of labeling (list and origin of ingredients, place of manufacture, etc.)

This service is also responsible for ensuring the economic protection of consumers, at the safety and the conformity of consumer products and services.

Example :

  • The DGCCRF contributes to the definition of the legal framework for competition and consumption
  • It informs and accompanies traders and consumers
  • It monitors compliance with competition and consumer protection rules and fights fraud
  • It defines the follow-up to be given to practices contrary to the law. In particular, it shall implement the necessary protective measures in the event of risks to the health or safety of consumers.

Warning  

DGCCRF does not intervene if you are a victim of swindle or if you wish to report a illegal or suspicious content or a misuse of your banking data.

DGCCRF does not settle the litigation related to the non-execution or the improper performance of a contract (works, services, subscriptions, deliveries,...).

If you have this type of dispute, you should try to resolve it to resolve amicably with the trader concerned or with the consumer ombudsman.

The DGCCRF can first investigate, following a report or not, to check whether a company has practices that comply with the law or not.

In the course of these investigations, DGCCRF officers can obtain information from public services and judicial police officers.

In addition, officers of the DGCCRF are also empowered to identify and stop breaches of the law. Thus, they may order the professionals concerned to comply with their obligations, to cease all acts unlawful or to remove any unlawful or prohibited clause. If necessary, a period may be granted to the professionals concerned.

Finally, the DGCCRF can apply sanctions to professionals who do not respect the law or who do not comply with its injunctions.

You can ask your consumer and competition questions or report to the DGCCRF using the Signal Conso online service:

Conso Signal: Report a Problem with a Merchant

You can also contact the DGCCRF by calling AnswerConso.

Who shall I contact

  • 0809 540 550 DGCCRF - ResponseConso

    Having trouble following a purchase? Do you have a question about a point of law before buying or ordering?

    You can get an answer from a DGCCRF: titleContent by calling the 0809 540 550.

    Opening hours of the service:

    No surtax number

    • Monday and Tuesday: from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 1:15 pm to 5:15 pm
    • Wednesday: 13:15 to 17:15
    • Thursday: from 8:30 to 12:30
    • Friday: from 8:30 am to 4 pm

Depending on the investigation it has conducted, the DGCCRF may 3 types of sanctions :

  • Warning : it shall inform the trader of the breach(s) it has found.
  • Corrective Suite : it shall oblige the trader to correct the infringement within a time limit set for him.
  • Repressive measure : they shall be taken in accordance with the breach established, in civil, criminal or administrative matters.

No, you cannot ask the DGCCRF to open an investigation.

Following your report, the DGCCRF itself decides, based on the context and any other reports received, whether or not an investigation is necessary.

If the DGCCRF decides to initiate an investigation, the procedure may or may not result in a sanction for the company audited.

But the DGCCRF cannot oblige the company to compensate you. If you wish to claim compensation, you must complain or to bring proceedings before a civil court.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • 0809 540 550 DGCCRF - ResponseConso

    Having trouble following a purchase? Do you have a question about a point of law before buying or ordering?

    You can get an answer from a DGCCRF: titleContent by calling the 0809 540 550.

    Opening hours of the service:

    No surtax number

    • Monday and Tuesday: from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 1:15 pm to 5:15 pm
    • Wednesday: 13:15 to 17:15
    • Thursday: from 8:30 to 12:30
    • Friday: from 8:30 am to 4 pm