Online Dispute Resolution for Consumers in the European Union

This book provides the first in-depth account of ODR for consumers in the EU context, offering a comprehensive and up to date investigation of the development of ODR for business to consumer disputes within the EU. It considers the current development of ODR and evaluates the challenges posed in the growth of ODR, before going on to examine the role of both the European legislator with the Mediation Directive and the English judiciary in encouraging the use of mediation. Pablo Cortes then outlines the need to create a Directive to close the gap between the potential of ODR services and their actual use, thus achieving a greater enforcement of consumer rights within the EU, arguing that ODR, if it is to realise its full potential in the resolution and enforcement of e-commerce disputes, must be grounded firmly on a European regulatory model.