17% more consumers have lodged complaints with the Ombudsman in 2019 than during the previous year, reads the annual report on the activities of the national Ombudsman. The report was approved by the National Assembly with just one abstention.

“The biggest number of complaints are against monopoly companies such as Toplofikatsia heating company, water and sewerage, electric energy companies,” said Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva. There are a great many complaints against collection companies and fast credit companies as well.

Last year 13,000 people submitted complaints to the Ombudsman, and 13.8% of the cases were closed. The Ombudsman’s office made five referrals to the Constitutional Court and initiated legislative initiative 13 times. Half of the 1,823 recommendations made to various institutions have been implemented, Diana Kovacheva said further.