Consumer Arbitration Committee 2026: Application & Limits

Summary: Defective product? Seller refusing refund? 2026 Guide to Turkish Consumer Arbitration Committee. 104,000 TL Limit, e-Government Application (TUBIS), and...

In Turkey, if you buy a defective phone, a bad pair of shoes, or get scammed by an internet seller, you do NOT go to court immediately. You go to the Consumer Arbitration Committee (Tüketici Hakem Heyeti - THH).

This is a quasi-judicial body specifically designed to solve consumer disputes fast (max 6 months) and free of charge.

However, there is a strict Monetary Limit. If your product is too expensive, THH cannot help you; you must go to Consumer Court. In 2026, due to high inflation, these limits have been drastically increased.

1. The 2026 Monetary Limits (Important!)

Effective from January 1, 2026, the jurisdictional limits have been updated:

Dispute Value	Authority
0 - 104,000 TL	Consumer Arbitration Committee (THH) (Mandatory)
Over 104,000 TL	Consumer Court (Tüketici Mahkemesi)

Rule: If you bought a laptop for 50,000 TL, you MUST apply to THH. The Consumer Court will reject your case for “Procedural Error” (Dava Şartı Yokluğu).
Rule: If you bought a car for 2,000,000 TL, you CANNOT go to THH. You must file a lawsuit in Consumer Court (and first go to Mandatory Mediation).

2. Who Can Apply?

Any “Consumer” can apply.

Definition: You must buy the good/service for personal use.
Business: If you bought a laptop for your company office and requested an invoice to your company name, you are NOT a consumer. You are a “Merchant”. You cannot use THH. You must go to Commercial Court.

3. Mandatory Mediation (Before Court)

If your dispute is over 104,000 TL (e.g., Car, House, expensive furniture), you cannot file a lawsuit directly.

Apply to Mediation Bureau at the Courthouse.
Meet with the Seller and Mediator.
If no agreement is reached -> File Lawsuit.

Note: For THH applications (under 104k), mediation is NOT required. You apply directly.

4. How to Apply? (TUBIS System)

You do not need a Attorney. You do not need to go to the District Governorship (Kaymakamlık). You can do it from your phone.

Step-by-Step TUBIS Application

Login to e-Devlet (turkiye.gov.tr).
Search for “Tüketici Hakem Heyeti Başvurusu” (TUBIS).
Fill the Form:
- Complainant: Your details.
- Complained: The Seller’s Title (check your invoice, e.g., “Trendyol Satıcı A.Ş.”).
- Dispute Value: Precise amount (e.g., 24,999.00 TL).
- Demand: Refund (Bedel İadesi), Exchange (Değişim), Repair (Onarım), or Discount (İndirim).
Upload Evidence:
- Invoice / Receipt (Fiş/Fatura).
- Photos of the defective product.
- Service Report (Servis Fişi) if widely available.
- Correspondence (WhatsApp/Email) with seller.

5. What are Your Rights? (Law No. 6502)

If the product is “Defective” (Ayıplı Mal), you have 4 optional rights. The SELLER cannot force you to choose one. YOU choose.

Withdrawal (Refund): Give the product back, get full money back.
Exchange (Değişim): Give the bad product, get a brand new defect-free one.
Free Repair (Onarım): Seller repairs it for free (Max 20 business days).
Discount: Keep the product but get a partial refund (e.g., scratch on the side).

Advice: Always ask for REFUND (Selection 1). If you ask for repair, you wait 20 days and it might break again. Refund is cash king.

6. The Decision and Execution

Duration: The Committee decides within 3 to 6 months.
Binding: The decision works like a Court Verdict (İlam).
Execution: If the Seller refuses to pay even after the decision, you take the THH Decision to the Execution Office (İcra Dairesi). The State seizes the seller’s bank accounts to pay you.

Objection

If the THH decides against you (or the Seller is unhappy):

Either party can file an “Objection Lawsuit” in the Consumer Court within 15 Days of notification.
The Consumer Court’s decision on this objection is FINAL.

7. Common Scenarios

A. “Service says it’s User Error” (Kullanıcı Hatası)

You bought a phone. Screen touched ghosty. Service says “You dropped it. 5000 TL repair fee.”
Action: Do NOT pay. Apply to THH. The THH will appoint an Expert Witness (Bilirkişi) (usually an engineer). If the Expert says “Factory defect”, you win.

B. “No Refund on Sale Items”

Shop sign: “İndirimli üründe değişim/iade olmaz.”
Legal Status: LIE. A defective product is defective, regardless of discount. You have full rights.

C. 14-Day Right of Withdrawal (Keyfi İade)

Only for Online/Distance Sales.
You can return the item within 14 days without any reason.
Does not apply to: Unsealed hygiene products (headphones, underwear), custom-made items.

8. FAQ

1. Is there an application fee?

NO. Applying to THH is 100% free. The State covers the expert fee initially. If you lose, you technically pay the expert fee (~1000 TL), but this is rarely enforced against consumers unless the claim was malicious.

2. Can I apply for Credit Card Annual Fees?

YES. If the bank charged “Yıllık Kart Aidatı” and you didn’t agree to it in a specialized contract, you can ask for a refund via THH.

3. What if the Seller went bankrupt?

Then THH decision is hard to enforce. You enter the bankruptcy table.

Konya Consumer Attorney

While THH is designed for self-representation, complex cases (Cars, Houses, huge furniture sets) require professional legal drafting to avoid “Loss of Rights due to Wrong Demand”.

📞 Consumer Law Dept: +90 554 192 47 20

📧 Email: fevziyaskir@gmail.com

📍 Address: Nişantaş Mah. Vatan Cad. No:12/1 Selçuklu/KONYA

⚖️ Av. Fevzi Yaşkir

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Legal Disclaimer: This guide was prepared by Attorney Fevzi Yaskir to assist foreign investors and expats in Turkey.

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