What is consumption?

The OMIC continues to provide its services to the public electronically and through the 010 phone service. Claims and enquiries will continue to be preferably dealt with online. For those inquiries or complaints that require face-to-face attention, you must make an appointment in advance on the municipal procedures portal ajuntament.barcelona.cat/cita/omic, by calling 010, or at the Municipal Procedures Kiosk.

What is consumption?

According to the Consumer Code of Catalonia (Act 22/2010 of 20 July 2010 on the Consumer Code of Catalonia), consumption takes place when all the following conditions are met:

There is a relationship of consumption between two parties (sale of goods and/or provision of services) at any of the following stages:

Information
Offer
Promotion
Advertising
Marketing
Use
Sale of goods or supply of services
Subsequent obligations

The claimant is a natural person (an “individual”), a non-profit association or a property owners’ association.
The claimant is acting in an area outside a business or professional activity.
The party against whom the claim is being made is not a natural person (with the exception of self-employed workers).

For example: if a consumer disagrees with an invoice, it is considered a consumer issue

Exemple: es considera consum si la persona consumidora no està d'acord amb una factura

For example: if a consumer has had their belongings stolen at a hotel, it is not considered a consumer issue

Exemple: no es considera consum si a la persona consumidora li han robat les coses a un hotel

For example: if a consumer's vehicle has been poorly repaired, it is considered a consumer issue

Exemple: es considera consum si no han reparat correctament el vehicle d'una persona consumidora

For example: if works carried out at a consumer’s property have been poorly executed, it is considered a consumer issue

Exemple: es considera consum si les obres fetes a la finca d'una persona consumidora no han estat correctes

For example: if your neighbour’s music is too loud, it is not considered a consumer issue

The following are consumer issues

Utilities (water, gas and electricity)
Telephone and internet access
Tourist services
Bar and restaurant services
Transport
Home service providers
Insurance
Financial services
Product purchases or repairs

The following are NOT consumer issues

Labour disputes
Civil rights
Co-existence matters in owners’ associations
Relations with the Public Administration
Consumer issues that are being dealt with in court and/or that can turn into criminal matters may not be handled by the OMIC, as it has not been granted powers for such cases by the Consumer Code of Catalonia