Wider Access to Consumer Support

The Barcelona Provincial Council has expanded its video call support service for consumer inquiries, complaints and claims to 52 new municipalities across the province. As of today, all towns in the Barcelona region with fewer than 20,000 residents that lack a local consumer office now have access to the remote assistance programme. This brings the total number of participating local entities to 225, covering 223 municipalities and two decentralized municipal bodies, reaching approximately 730,702 people who previously had limited direct access to consumer advice.

How the Service Works

Residents must first contact their town hall to initiate a request. Municipal staff assess whether the issue falls under consumer jurisdiction and, if so, schedule a video appointment within a maximum of 10 working days. Participants receive an email with a link to join the call from any internet-connected device at the scheduled time. Specialists from the Provincial Consumer Information Office (OPIC) then provide remote guidance during the call. The system aims to eliminate the need for travel or waiting for mobile units, particularly benefiting rural and small-town residents.

  • 26 municipalities in Alt Penedès
  • 31 in Anoia
  • 29 in Bages
  • 9 in Baix Llobregat
  • 25 in Berguedà
  • 39 in Osona

These are among the areas now covered under the expanded scheme.

More than 67% of consumer cases in these smaller towns can now be resolved without requiring in-person visits.

From January to the end of August 2026, OPIC managed 895 cases in municipalities without local consumer offices: 204 via video call (23%), 293 through mobile units (UMIC), and 398 by email. The video service alone has already handled 204 consultations since launch, with users rating it an average of 9.2 out of 10.

Complementary Mobile Units

The council continues to operate mobile consumer information units (UMIC), which will visit 58 municipalities in October according to published schedules. A public viewer on the Diputació’s website allows residents to check UMIC visit dates by municipality. The expansion aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 on responsible consumption and production, part of the 2030 Agenda adopted in 2015.

Primary sources: diba.cat, Diputació de Barcelona. Reported by europapress.es, pna.gov.ph.