Countries › Dominican Republic › Guide › 14. Disputes › Consumer claims in the Dominican Republic: Pro Consumidor conciliation, fines and limits

Consumer claims in the Dominican Republic: Pro Consumidor conciliation, fines and limits

Last verified: 2026-10-30 · Status: Stable

Consumers can take a dispute to Pro Consumidor for free conciliation: a hearing is called within days, and lawyers are optional. If that fails, the agency issues a reasoned decision and can bring an administrative case. Fines reach 500 minimum wages, or five times the value of the goods. Actions lapse in two years, and foreign sellers targeting Dominican consumers can be sued there.

Key facts

Consumer limitation	2 yearsLey 358-05 art. 134, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Top of the very serious band	500 minimum wagesLey 358-05 art. 112, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Conciliation free	Yes yes/noLey 358-05 art. 127, as of 2026-10-30 · in force

The rule

1. Conciliation is an extrajudicial step before the agency's administrative process and before court.Ley 358-05 General de Protección de los Derechos del Consumidor, art. 124, 2005-07-26 official text · verified 2026-10-30

2. It is universal, free, and quick.Ley 358-05 General de Protección de los Derechos del Consumidor, art. 127, 2005-07-26 official text · verified 2026-10-30

3. Either party can ask for a hearing. The conciliator summons within 5 working days, the hearing is within 5 working days, and lawyers are optional.Ley 358-05 General de Protección de los Derechos del Consumidor, art. 128 and art. 129, 2005-07-26 official text · verified 2026-10-30

4. A maximum of two hearings is held. If there is no result, the route is exhausted and a reasoned decision issues.Ley 358-05 General de Protección de los Derechos del Consumidor, art. 129, 2005-07-26 official text · verified 2026-10-30

5. Parties can opt for agreed arbitration unless the agency sees the public interest at stake.Ley 358-05 General de Protección de los Derechos del Consumidor, art. 130, 2005-07-26 official text · verified 2026-10-30

6. Pro Consumidor must set up a consumer arbitration system by regulation.Ley 358-05 General de Protección de los Derechos del Consumidor, art. 131, 2005-07-26 official text · verified 2026-10-30

7. Fines: minor, warning or up to 20 minimum wages; serious, 20 to 100, up to five times the value of the goods; very serious, 100 to 500, up to five times that value.
Cost to do it: Exposure in minimum wages. The wage used for the calculation should be checked in the law and regulation.Ley 358-05 General de Protección de los Derechos del Consumidor, art. 112, 2005-07-26 official text · verified 2026-10-30

8. Actions lapse in two years from the last violating act unless the law states otherwise.Ley 358-05 General de Protección de los Derechos del Consumidor, art. 134, 2005-07-26 official text · verified 2026-10-30

9. Dominican courts hear consumer contracts if the consumer is domiciled there and the seller trades or targets the country.Ley 544-14 de Derecho Internacional Privado, art. 16 num. 4, 2014-12-18 official text · verified 2026-10-30

10. Consumer forum clauses are limited.Ley 544-14 de Derecho Internacional Privado, art. 13, 2014-12-18 official text · verified 2026-10-30

11. Consumer rights are a matter where cassation lies without the cassation interest test.Ley 2-23 sobre Recurso de Casación, art. 10 num. 1, 2023-01-17 official text · verified 2026-10-30

Worked example

An online seller based abroad ships a faulty appliance to Santiago. The buyer files at Pro Consumidor, a hearing follows in about ten working days, and the buyer could also sue locally under art. 16.

Step by step

Keep invoices.
File with Pro Consumidor.
Attend the hearing.
Sign the minute if settled.
Go to court within two years if not.

Common traps

Do not ignore a summons: absence ends conciliation and a decision follows.
Sector regulators can have their own consumer procedures under art. 135, so check these for banks and energy.

Sources

← Conciliation and mediation in the Dominican Republic: chamber courts, settlements and what bindsLease disputes and evictions in the Dominican Republic: Ley 85-25 →

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