Organization & Staffing
Organization
Organization

The Ombudsman (head of the Independent Authority) is selected by the Ministers' Cabinet following a proposal by the Minister of Development and the opinion of the Committee of Institutions and Transparency of the Greek Parliament and is appointed by decision of the Minister of Development.

The Ombudsman is assisted in carrying out her/his duties by two (2) Assistant Ombudsmen who are appointed by decision of the Minister of Development following a proposal by the Ombudsman. One of the Assistant Ombudsmen, acts as Deputy Ombudsman.

The Authority's staff numbers a total of 50 employees, with the following breakdown:

  • Thirty-five (35) positions of special scientists, of various specializations.
  • Eight (8) positions of administrative officers which are not covered.
  • Seven (7) positions of employees with a private law employment contract, intended to cover the needs of the offices of the Ombudsman and Assistant Ombudsmen.
Λευκό Φόντο
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organization chart
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Composition – Staffing
Composition – Staffing
Dr. Vasiliki Bolou
Deputy Ombudsman
Dr. Vasiliki Bolou
Curriculum Vitae +

Mrs. Vasiliki Bolou is Deputy Consumer Ombudsman from 07/2020 until today.
She holds a PhD (Dr. jur.) from the law Faculty of the Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-University of Frankfurt a.M. She graduated from the law Faculty of the Albertus-Magnus-University of Cologne.
From 2005 until 2020 she served as Assistant Consumer Ombudsman. Beforehand she worked from 1998 until 2005 as a Research Associate at the Greek Ombudsman, responsible for Social Security.
She has been a lawyer in Athens since 1998 (suspended). During her studies she worked as Assistant to Professor Hans Joachim Hirsch at the Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology at the University of Cologne (1991-1993). Furthermore, she was Research Assistant in the Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany (1993-1994), drafting bills concerning the incorporation of EU directives on consumer protection into German law. She has published several articles in Greek and German scientific journals and is fluent in German and English.

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Confirmation

A) Make sure you understand the responsibilities of the Consumer Ombudsman (StK) and that the subject of the report of you is within the scope of these powers (https://www.synigoroskatanaloti.gr/el/armodiotites & in particular article 4 Law 3297/2004, as applicable).
The STK has the authority and role of mediator between consumers and suppliers and does not impose sanctions. He is only responsible for cases that have arisen up to one year before the submission of the petition and for which no legal proceedings have been initiated.
Indicatively, the SC is not competent: for disputes between businesses, for disputes connected with the business, commercial or professional activity of the petitioner, for disputes from transactions for which no legal document has been issued, for cases related to the control of fuel, food and medicine prices or for alterations/forgery related to the above, for tax disputes and in general for civil disputes against public bodies , OTAs (Municipalities, Regions) etc.

B) Make sure that you have available all the necessary documents that are useful for the investigation of the case and which must be attached (e.g. copies of contracts, invoices, purchase receipts, relevant correspondence, etc.).

C) Make sure it does not concern a company/professional based outside Greece, otherwise you can submit a report to the European Consumer Center (ECC) after taking into account the relevant conditions and powers of the ECC.

D) Contact the supplier in any convenient way, in order to raise the problem that concerns you and seek resolution and proceed with the report if the problem is not resolved within a reasonable time. Where possible, please attach copies of your communication with the supplier to your report.

E) Update: The report shall be forwarded to the complaining firms as such.

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