Consumer rights in Åland
The same consumer protection laws apply in Åland as in Finland However, consumer advice is provided by the Office of the Åland Ombudsman and not by the Competition and Consumer Authority. Read the Consumer Protection Act in its entirety on the Finlex website.
Consumer advice
The consumer advice service at the Office of the Åland Ombudsman offers free guidance and advice to both consumers and businesses. They provide information on rights and obligations and can assist with mediation in the event of disputes. Advice is also provided in the event of problems relating to the purchase of homes and property, as well as in rental matters, as Åland has its own rental law. If a dispute cannot be resolved through mediation, the matter may be referred to the Consumer Disputes Board.
Further information is available on the website of the Office of the Åland Ombudsman under Consumer advice. The Consumer Disputes Board’s website contains information on what to consider before submitting a complaint and how to make a complaint.
Credit history
In Finland and Åland, the Tax Administration’s positive credit register is used. Among other things, this contains information on the credit history, income and any voluntary credit restrictions of private individuals and entrepreneurs. Information on salaries, pensions and benefits is obtained from the Incomes Register, and it is the lenders who report approved home loans, car loans, student loans, consumer credit etc. to the register.
The purpose of the register is to provide lenders with a better basis for assessing creditworthiness and to reduce the risk of over-indebtedness. The register is beneficial because it does not contain so-called negative credit records, such as records of payment defaults or enforcement proceedings.
In the Nordic region, negative credit reports are handled by private companies. If bills or other debts are not paid, a record of a payment default may be registered. Cooperation agreements between the companies mean that payment defaults recorded in Finland can, in certain cases, also be checked in other Nordic countries. Payment default records usually remain on file for two to three years. Read more on the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority’s website.
Public service
The role of public service broadcasting is to give all citizens access to impartial and diverse information that is free and independent of both political and commercial influences. In Åland, Ålands Radio och TV (ÅRTV) has the statutory public service remit. ÅRTV also has a duty to inform the public about potentially dangerous situations at the request of the emergency services. ÅRTV offers both Swedish and Finnish radio and TV channels. You can see what ÅRTV has to offer on their website Frekvenser.
Media fee
Public service broadcasting is financed through an annual media fee that is paid together with income tax. The media fee is paid persons over the age of 18 whose municipality of residence is in Åland and with an income of over €14,000. The fee is linked to the cost of living index, and the Government of Åland sets the media fee every autumn for the following tax year. More information on the media fee and the current amount is available on the Finnish Tax Administration's website.
Contracts, agreements and services
In Åland, a Finnish personal identity code may be required to make agreements for services such as telephone contracts. Contact your current supplier to find out what is required in your situation. Read more about Finnish personal identity codes on the Info Norden website.
Banks are obliged to provide basic banking services to all consumer customers who are legally resident in Finland or Åland. Basic banking services include, for example, a payment account with basic functions and associated means of payment, such as payment cards and online banking codes, the ability to withdraw cash, making payment transactions and an electronic identifier.
A bank cannot refuse your application for a bank account simply because you do not live in the country. However, this right does not apply to all types of accounts, such as savings accounts. Read more about banking services in Åland on the page Bank accounts in Åland.
Depending on the operator, a Finnish personal identity code may be required to sign up for a mobile phone subscription with a monthly fee or a broadband contract. If you do not have a Finnish personal identity code, you can instead choose a prepaid subscription (pay-as-you-go card), where you pay in advance.
In Åland homes, the most common solution for television is IPTV. IPTV requires access to fixed broadband. If you are a tenant, the costs for IPTV are usually not included in the rent, unless otherwise agreed in the rental contract.
Several providers offer broadband and fibre contracts, telephony and IPTV in Åland. The business directory on aland.com provides an overview of companies offering various solutions.
Tenants usually take out their own electricity contract, unless otherwise agreed with the landlord or the housing association, for example. You can make an electricity contract without a Finnish personal identity code, but the electricity supplier may require other information, such as your passport number. Your electricity connection or supply contract does not automatically transfer if you move; you will need to notify your electricity supplier of your move.
There are two electricity suppliers in Åland that you can sign up with, depending on whether you live in the countryside, the archipelago or in Mariehamn. More information is available on the electricity suppliers’ websites.
More information
On the Info Norden website, you can find information on consumer rights in the other Nordic countries and contact information for the authorities that can answer questions.
Please fill in our contact form if you have any questions or if you have encountered an obstacle in another Nordic country.
NB! If you have questions regarding the processing of a specific case or application, or other personal matters, please contact the relevant authority directly.