Consumer protection rules for companies selling in Argentina

Key rules

1. Legal framework and who enforces it

1.1 The layers

The Law is integrated with general and special rules on consumer relations, expressly including competition and fair trade law; a provider subject to sector rules (telecoms, banking, insurance, utilities) is also subject to the Law (LDC art. 3). For the competition overlay see /guide/regulation/antitrust/; for data used in marketing see /guide/regulation/data-protection/; for card and payment rules see /guide/finance/banking-payments/.

1.2 Who enforces it: national and provincial

• National authority. The Law names the Secretariat of Domestic Commerce as national enforcement authority (LDC art. 41). Today that role sits in the Secretariat of Industry and Commerce of the Ministry of Economy and, by delegation, in the SSDCyLC and its DNDCyAC (recitals of SIC Res. 4/2025 and Disp. 954/2025; Disp. DNDCyAC 8/2026 uses the 2026 name of the Secretariat).
• Local authorities. The City of Buenos Aires and each province act as local enforcement authorities, with powers of control, surveillance and adjudication for infractions committed in their territory (LDC art. 41). The national authority may act concurrently (LDC art. 42). Each province and CABA sets its own procedure "compatible" with the principles of LDC art. 45 (art. 45, last paragraph).
• What this means in practice. A national online seller can face proceedings in the city or province where the consumer lives, under that jurisdiction's procedure and with its own fine practice. The sources do not include any provincial consumer code, so local procedures, early payment discounts and fine scales are not covered here (unconfirmed). The decree that introduced the national 50% discount itself notes that "several" local authorities already had one (Decree 377/2026, recitals).
• Fair trade rules. Provinces and CABA also enforce DNU 274/2019 locally; when the infraction affects interjurisdictional trade, files go to the national authority (DNU 274/2019 arts. 27 and 29).
• Claims routing. The Single Federal Consumer Claims Window is "the only formal channel" for receiving consumer claims nationwide; it assigns them to jurisdictions under LDC art. 41 and gives adhering local authorities full access to the data. Provinces not yet adhering are invited to do so (Disp. SSDCyLC 890/2025 arts. 1 to 4). Which provinces adhere is not in the sources (unconfirmed).

2. Scope: who is a consumer and who is a provider

Consumer. A natural or legal person who acquires or uses goods or services, free or for consideration, as final recipient, for its own benefit or that of its family or social group; a person who, without being a party, uses the goods or services as a result of the consumer relation is treated the same (LDC art. 1; CCyC art. 1092). Persons who receive free samples in view of a possible purchase are also consumers (Regulations art. 1(a)).

Business buyers. Goods or services are "integrated into processes of production, transformation, marketing or provision to third parties" when they relate to those processes "generically or specifically" (Regulations art. 2). A company buying for that purpose is not a consumer. The national authority applies this test expressly to the withdrawal right (Disp. 954/2025 art. 3(c)). Whether a company that buys goods outside its business activity is a consumer depends on the facts; there is no bright line in the sources (unconfirmed).

Provider. Any natural or legal person, public or private, who professionally, "even occasionally", produces, assembles, creates, builds, transforms, imports, licenses a brand, distributes or markets goods and services for consumers (LDC art. 2). University qualified liberal professionals registered with a professional body are excluded, but their advertising is covered (art. 2, second paragraph).

Consumer relation and abusive practices. The consumer relation is the legal bond between provider and consumer (LDC art. 3; CCyC art. 1092). The CCyC rules on abusive practices and advertising protect everyone exposed to commercial practices, whether or not they buy (CCyC art. 1096).

Foreign sellers. The Mercosur e commerce rule applies to providers established in a Mercosur state "or that operate commercially under any of its internet domains" (GMC Res. 37/19 art. 10, incorporated by SCI Res. 270/2020). Under the CCyC, a consumer contract is governed by the law of the consumer's domicile if the contract was preceded by an offer, advertising or activity in that state and the consumer took the steps to conclude it there, or if the provider received the order there (CCyC art. 2655(a) and (b)). The consumer may sue in several places including where he or she performed the acts needed to conclude the contract, and no choice of forum is admitted (CCyC art. 2654). A foreign website that targets Argentine consumers should therefore expect Argentine law and Argentine courts. How a foreign seller without a local presence is notified and fined by an Argentine authority is not addressed in the sources (unconfirmed).

3.1 Information and offers

• General duty. Certain, clear and detailed information on the essential features of goods and services and conditions of sale; free of charge (LDC art. 4; CCyC art. 1100). Digital delivery is accepted on the conditions of Disp. SSDCyLC 619/2024.
• Dangerous products. A manual in Spanish ("idioma nacional") on use, installation and maintenance; for imports, the providers are responsible for the translation (LDC art. 6). A provider who learns after launch that a product is dangerous must inform the authorities and consumers immediately through sufficient advertising (Regulations art. 4).
• Offers bind. An offer to indeterminate consumers binds the issuer while it runs and must state start and end dates and its conditions or limits. Failure to honour it is treated as an unjustified refusal to sell, sanctionable under art. 47 (LDC art. 7). An offer made off the point of sale must always state its validity; if stock is limited, the quantity must be disclosed; contradictory terms are read in the consumer's favour (Regulations art. 7(a)).
• Advertising is part of the contract. Statements in advertising bind the offeror (LDC art. 8; CCyC art. 1103). For telephone, catalogue or mail order sales, the name, address and CUIT of the offeror must appear (LDC art. 8, second paragraph).
• Electronic offers. They remain valid for the period set by the offeror or, failing that, while accessible; the offeror must confirm receipt of acceptance electronically and without delay (CCyC art. 1108). For electronic distance contracts, the provider must explain how to use the medium, its risks and who bears them, besides the minimum content and the withdrawal right (CCyC art. 1107).
• Sales document. Description of the goods, seller's name and address, manufacturer or importer where relevant, warranty, delivery terms, price and payment terms, additional costs and the final price, in Spanish, with no references to documents not delivered (LDC art. 10). A fiscal ticket may carry a generic description; if goods have no warranty, the document must say so, and omission is sanctionable (Regulations art. 10(a) and (b)).
• Receipts. Invoices and receipts in a consumer relation may only contain items relating to the good or service actually contracted, not unrelated sums (SIC Res. 267/2024 art. 1, in force from 11 Sep 2024 with 30 days to adapt, art. 3).
• Means of payment. Providers must display at points of sale and on their websites all means of payment accepted (SCI Res. 449/2020 arts. 1 and 2).
• Card terminals. Shops using POS terminals must let the consumer keep control of the card at all times (SC Res. 87/2024 art. 1; 180 days to adapt, art. 3).

3.2 Dignified treatment and non discrimination

Providers must ensure dignified and equitable treatment, may not place consumers in embarrassing, humiliating or intimidating situations, and may not discriminate against foreign consumers on price, quality or other relevant aspects unless authorised by the authority for reasons of general interest (LDC art. 8 bis; CCyC arts. 1097 and 1098). Out of court debt collection must not look like a court claim. Breach can trigger the civil fine of art. 52 bis, extended jointly to whoever acted on behalf of the provider (LDC art. 8 bis, last paragraph). Tying the supply of a product to the purchase of another is prohibited (CCyC art. 1099).

3.3 Advertising

• Civil prohibitions. Advertising that is false or misleading on essential elements, misleading comparisons, and abusive, discriminatory or dangerous advertising are prohibited; courts may order cessation, corrective notices and publication of the judgment (CCyC arts. 1101 and 1102).
• Fair trade prohibitions. Misleading advertising "by inaccuracies or omissions" on characteristics, origin, quality, quantity, price, conditions of sale and other features is prohibited (DNU 274/2019 art. 11). There is no prior authorisation; control is ex post (art. 12). Prize promotions subject to chance and contests conditioned on a purchase are prohibited (art. 14(a) and (b)); comparative advertising is defined in art. 15.
• Mandatory disclosures in ads that are offers. Every ad that is an offer under LDC art. 7 must give access, through a website or alternative channel, to territorial and time validity, the offeror's name, address and CUIT, conditions of sale and stock limits, using the phrase "PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN O LIMITACIONES APLICABLES CONSULTE EN www.…" or the equivalent with a phone number (SIC Res. 446/2025 art. 1). The reference and any legally required warnings must occupy the full width at the foot of the ad, at least 5% of its height, in bold characters at least 4 mm high; on screen they must stay at least 5 seconds, or the whole spot if shorter; on radio they must be clear, without background music and not faster than the main text (same article).
• Prices in ads. Prices advertised voluntarily must follow SIC Res. 4/2025 arts. 2 and 3; financing details (instalments and total financial cost) may be given through the website or channel, except in digital media where they must be shown clearly (SIC Res. 446/2025 art. 2).
• Ticket resale sites must show "ESTE ES UN SITIO DE REVENTA DE ENTRADAS" on their main page (SIC Res. 446/2025 art. 4).
• Online gaming and betting ads must carry "EL JUGAR COMPULSIVAMENTE ES PERJUDICIAL PARA LA SALUD" and "+18", at least 10% of the ad's height, throughout the piece, including influencer content and live streams (SIC Res. 446/2025 art. 5 and Annex, as replaced by Res. 271/2026, BO 6 Aug 2026). A reporting channel targets influencers who omit the warning (art. 6).
• Timeline. SIC Res. 446/2025 (BO 3 Nov 2025, in force 30 days later, art. 10) repealed SIC Res. 12/2024 (art. 9), which had itself repealed SC Res. 915/2017 (Res. 12/2024 art. 6). The 2025 version replaced the 3 mm and 4 second minimums of Res. 12/2024 with 4 mm and 5 seconds.

3.4 Price display (pricing rules)

SIC Res. 4/2025 (BO 17 Jan 2025; in force the next day, art. 8) repealed SCDyDC Res. 7/2002 and Res. 55/2002 and now governs price display for anyone offering goods or services directly to final users (arts. 1 and 6):

Law 27.743 overlay. Since its BO publication on 8 Jul 2024 (Infoleg record), Law 27.743 requires anyone selling to final consumers to show the final price and the net amount without VAT and other national indirect taxes, and invoices or tickets must itemise those taxes; breach is sanctioned under Law 11.683 art. 40, and ARCA was to regulate so that the duties apply from 1 Jan 2025 (Law 27.743 arts. 99 and 101). Law 11.683 art. 40 provides for closure of the establishment for 2 to 6 days when the value of the goods or services exceeds ARS 20,000 (amount set by Law 27.799, BO 2 Jan 2026), doubled for a repeat infraction within two years. Whether ARCA has applied art. 40 closure to price display failures, and which ARCA rule implements art. 99, is not in the sources (unconfirmed).

Two wording traps. Law 27.743 art. 99 says "PRECIO SIN IMPUESTOS"; SIC Res. 4/2025 quotes it as "PRECIO SIN IMPUESTOS NACIONALES" and requires that longer legend. Using the Res. 4/2025 wording satisfies the more specific rule (unconfirmed).

What happened to the "no interest" rule. SC Res. 51/2017 had replaced art. 4 of Res. 7/2002 to require full financing disclosure and to ban the phrase "sin interés" when the financing cost is passed into the price (Res. 51/2017 art. 2). Res. 7/2002 "and its amendments" was repealed by SIC Res. 4/2025 art. 6, and the new resolution does not repeat the ban. Whether the "sin interés" ban survives (for instance as misleading advertising under DNU 274/2019 art. 11) is uncertain and not addressed in the sources (unconfirmed). Separately, Res. 51/2017 art. 1 reads the card law ban on price differences between cash and card (Law 25.065 art. 37(c)) as covering single payment operations, so a seller may not charge more for a single card payment than for cash. Art. 37 does not appear among the card law articles repealed or replaced by DNU 70/2023 (arts. 14 to 23 of the DNU), and the Infoleg updated text of Law 25.065 still shows art. 37(c) (unconfirmed).

3.5 Distance sales, e commerce and the right of withdrawal

Definitions. Off premises sales include offers at the consumer's home or workplace or in the street, and contracts resulting from summoning the consumer for another purpose or a prize (LDC art. 32; CCyC art. 1104; Regulations art. 32(a)). Distance contracts are concluded exclusively by means of distance communication: post, electronic, telecoms, radio, TV or press (LDC art. 33; CCyC art. 1105). A post office box may not be published as the address (LDC art. 33).

Writing. Where the law requires writing, an electronic medium satisfies it (CCyC art. 1106).

The withdrawal right.

There is a visible tension between Regulations art. 34 ("without having used it") and CCyC art. 1115 (no reimbursement for decrease in value caused by use according to its nature). Disp. 954/2025 art. 3(b) sides with the regulation for goods "effectively used or consumed". Expect disputes at the margin, for example clothing tried on (unconfirmed).

The withdrawal button (Disp. SSDCyLC 954/2025, BO 4 Sep 2025, in force the same day, art. 11).

• Providers selling goods and services at a distance "through web pages or similar format" must have, at first sight, in a prominent place and on first access, a link named "BOTÓN DE ARREPENTIMIENTO" through which the consumer can request revocation under LDC art. 34 and CCyC art. 1110. No prior registration or other additional step may be required (art. 1).
• Within 24 hours of the request, by the same medium, the provider must give the consumer the identification or registration code of the request and take the steps to carry it out (art. 5).
• Breach is sanctioned under the Law (art. 7).
• Res. 424/2020 (which required the link "from the home page", art. 2, and a code within 24 hours, art. 1) and SC Res. 316/2018 (cancellation button) were repealed (art. 10).
• Identity checks. Since Disp. DNDCyAC 3/2026 (BO 6 Feb 2026), the consumer must complete the provider's verification steps when they are reasonable, use usual means and serve exclusively to verify identity and security (art. 1). This softens the "no registration" rule but does not allow login walls designed to deter use. The line between a reasonable check and a barrier is not defined (unconfirmed).
• Apps. Disp. 954/2025 art. 1 refers to "web pages or similar format" and art. 4 to "web pages and/or digital marketing channels or similar format"; Res. 424/2020 expressly covered "pages or web applications". Applying the button to mobile apps is the safe reading (unconfirmed).

The cancellation button and call centre hours.

• Services contracted by phone, electronically or similarly can be terminated by the same means; the company must send free written proof within 72 hours (LDC art. 10 ter). No notice period, month in advance or other charge may be demanded when a consumer cancels (LDC art. 10 quáter, added by Law 27.265).
• Providers selling at a distance through websites or digital channels must show a "BOTÓN DE BAJA DE SERVICIO" under the same visibility and no registration conditions; 60 calendar days were given to adapt (Disp. 954/2025 arts. 4 and 8). Unlike repealed Res. 316/2018 (whose sector list was set in SCI Res. 271/2020 art. 6), the 2025 rule is not limited to listed sectors.
• Remote customer service must operate at least during the provider's commercial days and hours and, if service is exclusively by phone or electronic means, at least 8 hours per business day, Monday to Friday; the website must show the phone or channel for complaints and the responsible area (Disp. 954/2025 art. 6).
• The minimum quality parameters for remote customer service of SCI Res. 1033/2021 (MSMEs under Law 25.300 exempt, art. 2) appear in the Infoleg updated text without a repeal note (unconfirmed).

Adhesion contracts online. Providers using adhesion contracts must publish a copy on their website and give a free copy in their shops on request, with a sign announcing it (LDC art. 38, as replaced by Law 27.266). All copies and general and particular conditions must be published on the home page, by product variant, through a single hyperlink, under the title "Contratos de adhesión - Ley N° 24.240 de Defensa del Consumidor"; registered users must be able to see their own signed contract and promotions (SCI Res. 271/2020 arts. 1 to 5).

Mercosur pre contract information (GMC Res. 37/19, in force in Argentina 180 days after BO 8 Sep 2020, SCI Res. 270/2020 art. 3). Before contracting, the website must show: trade and legal name; physical and electronic address; customer service email; tax ID; manufacturer where relevant; product registrations; essential features including health and safety risks; price including taxes with any additional cost such as delivery or insurance; payment terms with instalments and total financial cost; terms and limits of the offer and availability; warranty conditions; and any other relevant condition (art. 2). Terms must be readable and storable unaltered (art. 3); a contract summary highlighting the key clauses must be shown before contracting (art. 4); the consumer must be able to correct input errors, and confirmation must be express, silence not being consent (art. 5); an efficient complaints service is required (art. 7). GMC Res. 21/04 (incorporated by SC Res. 104/2005) adds delivery terms, return and refund policy, privacy policy and security level, a copy of the contract, and a link to the applicable consumer law and the national authority (arts. 2, 3 and 5).

Abusive web practices listed since 2026. Clauses that treat a contract as accepted by mere browsing, that penalise negative reviews, or that restrict withdrawal for distance sales beyond the CCyC are abusive (SC Res. 53/2003 Annex items (p), (o) and (n), as replaced by Disp. 377/2026).

Unsolicited charges. Offering something not requested that generates an automatic charge unless the consumer says no is prohibited; goods sent need not be kept or returned (LDC art. 35).

3.6 Warranties and after sales

The COVID era suspension of warranty terms (SCI Res. 244/2020) has no further practical effect for new sales.

3.7 Credit sales

Consumer credit and financing documents must state, on pain of nullity: description of goods, cash price, down payment and amount financed, annual effective interest rate, total interest or total financial cost, amortisation system, number, frequency and amount of payments, and extra charges and insurance. If the effective rate is omitted, interest is reduced to the BCRA average market deposit rate at the contract date. If third party financing is not obtained, the sale is undone at no cost. In suits brought by the provider, only the courts of the consumer's actual domicile are competent (LDC art. 36). Banking product rules are covered in /guide/finance/banking-payments/.

3.8 Unfair terms

Statutory test. Without affecting the validity of the contract, clauses are treated as not agreed if they distort obligations or limit liability for damages, waive or restrict consumer rights or broaden the provider's rights, or reverse the burden of proof against the consumer (LDC art. 37). If the offeror breaches good faith, the information duty or competition or fair trade law, the consumer may seek nullity of the contract or of clauses; partial nullity requires the judge to integrate the contract (art. 37).

CCyC test. A clause is abusive if it causes a significant imbalance between rights and obligations to the consumer's detriment, whether or not individually negotiated or expressly approved (CCyC arts. 1118 and 1119). The same result reached through linked contracts is an "abusive legal situation" (art. 1120). Clauses on the price to value relation, and clauses reflecting treaties or mandatory law, cannot be declared abusive (art. 1121). Administrative approval does not prevent judicial control; abusive clauses are treated as not agreed; partial nullity requires integration (art. 1122).

Adhesion contracts generally. Predisposed general clauses must be comprehensible and self sufficient, and references to documents not supplied are void, including in telephone and electronic contracting (CCyC art. 985). Ambiguous clauses are read against the drafter (art. 987). Clauses that are not reasonably foreseeable by content, wording or presentation are void (art. 988(c)).

DNU 70/2023 and art. 989. DNU 70/2023 (BO 21 Dec 2023) replaced CCyC art. 989, removing its second sentence that obliged the judge to integrate a partially void adhesion contract (DNU 70/2023 art. 254), and also replaced arts. 958 (freedom of contract, default rules supplementary unless expressly mandatory) and 960 (judges may not modify contracts except at a party's request when the law allows) (arts. 252 and 253). For consumer contracts the integration duty survives in CCyC art. 1122(c) and LDC art. 37, which the DNU did not touch. How far the new arts. 958 and 960 affect judicial review of consumer clauses is contested (unconfirmed).

The official list (SC Res. 53/2003, Annex as replaced by Disp. SSDCyLC 377/2026, BO 11 Mar 2026). Consumer contracts may not include, among others, clauses that:

Providers must remove listed clauses and notify existing customers (Res. 53/2003 art. 2); the authority may order notice to consumers within a set period, and failure is sanctionable (Regulations art. 38). The Infoleg history shows that SCI Res. 994/2021 had added items up to (y); the 2026 annex stops at (u), so four items were dropped (unconfirmed).

3.9 Liability for damage

• Joint liability chain. If damage results from a defect or risk of the thing or service, producer, manufacturer, importer, distributor, supplier, seller and whoever put its brand on it are jointly liable; only proof that the cause was foreign to them releases them (LDC art. 40). Marketplaces and logistics operators should assess whether they fall in this chain (unconfirmed).
• Direct damage awarded by the authority. Administrative bodies meeting strict conditions (power to resolve private disputes, technical specialisation and independence, full judicial review) may award compensation for material damage to the goods in the consumer relation; non pecuniary damage is excluded (LDC art. 40 bis). Whether the national authority or any provincial body currently meets these requirements is not stated in the sources (unconfirmed).

3.10 Punitive damages (art. 52 bis)

• Trigger. Any provider that fails to perform its legal or contractual obligations toward the consumer (LDC art. 52 bis). The text does not require intent or gross negligence; courts usually demand serious misconduct (unconfirmed).
• Who asks. Only at the request of the injured party; the judge "may" award it (art. 52 bis).
• Who receives it. The consumer.
• Measure. Graded by the seriousness of the act and other circumstances, independent of other compensation.
• Several providers. Jointly liable, with rights of recourse among them.
• Cap. The maximum fine of art. 47(b): 2,100 CBT (arts. 52 bis and 47(b)).
• Dignified treatment. Art. 8 bis breaches can also trigger the civil fine, jointly with whoever acted for the provider.
• Excessive punishment. If administrative, criminal or civil penalties for the same act add up to an unreasonable or excessive punishment, the judge must take this into account to fix the amount, and may set the measure aside in whole or in part (CCyC arts. 1714 and 1715). An administrative fine already paid is therefore a relevant argument in a punitive damages claim.

3.11 Administrative sanctions

National publication now online and free. National sanctions are published through the authority's portal (Disp. SSDCyLC 362/2026 art. 6), at no cost to the provider, for the term in LDC art. 49, showing name, CUIT, sanction, amount, date, legal basis and a short description (Disp. DNDCyAC 8/2026 arts. 2 and 3). Provincial authorities are invited to upload their sanctions to the National Register of Infractors (RENAI), which is open to the public (Disp. 362/2026 arts. 3 and 7). Practical consequence: a sanction becomes searchable by CUIT.

Fair trade sanctions. For breaches of DNU 274/2019 (misleading advertising, labelling, promotions) and of rules that refer to it (SIC Res. 4/2025 art. 5; SIC Res. 446/2025 art. 8), the fine is 1 to 10,000,000 UM (DNU 274/2019 art. 57(b)). The UM is the Competition Law unit, ARS 1,450.05 in 2026 (TDC Res. 6/2026 art. 1), so the range is ARS 1,450.05 to ARS 14,500,500,000 (about US$ 0.93 to US$ 9,272,012). Other sanctions: warning, suspension from state suppliers up to 5 years, loss of privileges, closure up to 30 days and corrective advertising, with an extra fine of up to 50% if corrective advertising is not carried out (art. 57). Grading includes deterrence, benefit, market share and economic capacity; cooperation is a mitigating factor (art. 58). Recidivism within 3 years is aggravating (art. 59). A 50% reduction applies if the fine is paid within 10 days without appeal (art. 53). Limitation: 3 years (art. 55). Appeal to the National Court of Appeals in Civil and Commercial Federal matters, with suspensive effect (art. 53).

4. Rates, thresholds and deadlines

4.1 Money thresholds

The CBT gap. The LDC fine is indexed to the INDEC total basic basket for "household 3". INDEC publishes it monthly, but the INDEC website is outside the domains this page could use, and no downloaded official text states a current peso value. All peso figures in CBT below therefore use a placeholder of ARS 1,000,000 per CBT for arithmetic only. It is not the INDEC figure. The editor must replace it with the INDEC value for the relevant month (unconfirmed).

4.2 Deadlines

5. Timeline of norms

6. Dispute resolution after COPREC

What was abolished. Decree 55/2025 dissolved COPREC, the National Register of Consumer Conciliators and the COPREC financing fund, and repealed Law 26.993 arts. 1 to 40, 74 and 75 and Decree 202/2015, effective 1 Feb 2025 (arts. 1 to 3, 6 and 7). Pending COPREC files are concluded by the SIC (art. 4). The decree was issued under the delegated powers of Law 27.742 and must be reported to the Bicameral Commission (recitals; art. 8). Its recitals state that COPREC operated only in CABA and that CABA has its own pre litigation consumer conciliation service and local consumer authority.

Loose ends. * Law 26.993 art. 50 (still in the updated text) says a claimant before the national consumer courts must prove completion of the prior conciliation under Title I, which no longer exists (unconfirmed). * The mediation law exclusion for consumer disputes "covered by" COPREC (Law 26.589 art. 5, as replaced by Law 26.993 art. 73) now has no object. Whether consumer claims in the national courts of CABA now require mandatory pre litigation mediation is unclear (unconfirmed). * Whether the national consumer courts created by Law 26.993 arts. 41 to 49 (8 first instance courts, one appeals chamber, cap of 55 SMVM, art. 42) are operating is not in the sources (unconfirmed). See /guide/disputes/courts/.

Routes available in 2026.

SNAC for providers. A provider may file a "Public Offer of Adhesion"; it covers all its goods unless limited, national scope, indefinite term or at least 6 months if fixed, renewable automatically, and with a duty to comply with awards. Renunciation needs 45 business days' notice and the provider must inform consumers; non compliance with awards leads to exclusion and loss of the official badge (Disp. 892/2025 arts. 4 to 9). If the provider has not adhered, it has 5 business days to accept or reject; rejection sends the file to the competent authority (art. 30). Conciliation inside the arbitration cannot exceed 10 business days (art. 36). Appeals against awards are limited to clarification and nullity (arts. 76 to 79 as numbered in the text). Arbitration clauses imposed in consumer contracts are not valid: consumer matters and adhesion contracts are excluded from contractual arbitration (CCyC art. 1651(c) and (d)); see /guide/disputes/arbitration/.

Vulnerable consumers. Persons who because of age, gender, health or social, economic or cultural circumstances are or may be affected receive a special procedure (Disp. SSDCyLC 137/2024 art. 1) and a fast track arbitration with a single amiable compositor and notice to the provider within 2 business days (Disp. 892/2025 arts. 50 to 56). These files are flagged by the Single Window (Disp. 890/2025 art. 2(e)).

Step by step

7.1 Compliance launch for an online seller

1. Map the activity. Goods or services? Sold online, by phone, door to door? Subscriptions? Event tickets or tourism? Mark which rules apply (sections 3.5 and 3.6).
2. Home page. Add the "BOTÓN DE ARREPENTIMIENTO" and, if you sell services, the "BOTÓN DE BAJA DE SERVICIO", visible on first access, without login (Disp. 954/2025 arts. 1 and 4). Do the same in apps (unconfirmed). Design identity checks to be minimal (Disp. 3/2026).
3. Automate the 24 hour code. Each request must receive a request code by the same medium within 24 hours (Disp. 954/2025 art. 5).
4. Publish contracts. One hyperlink "Contratos de adhesión - Ley N° 24.240 de Defensa del Consumidor" on the home page with all terms by product variant and current promotions with dates (SCI Res. 271/2020 arts. 2 to 4; LDC art. 38).
5. Pre contract information. Legal name, address, email, CUIT, essential features, final price with delivery costs, instalments with total financial cost, stock limits, warranty, withdrawal right in prominent characters immediately before acceptance (GMC Res. 37/19 art. 2; CCyC art. 1111; LDC art. 34).
6. Checkout. Error correction and express confirmation; no pre ticked acceptance by browsing (GMC Res. 37/19 art. 5; Res. 53/2003 item (p)). Send electronic confirmation of acceptance without delay (CCyC art. 1108).
7. Prices. Pesos, final price, "PRECIO SIN IMPUESTOS NACIONALES" in smaller type, unit price where applicable, financing details (SIC Res. 4/2025 art. 2). Show accepted payment methods (SCI Res. 449/2020).
8. Ads. Footer with the "PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN O LIMITACIONES APLICABLES CONSULTE EN" reference, 4 mm, 5% of height, 5 seconds (SIC Res. 446/2025 art. 1).
9. Terms review. Remove every clause on the Res. 53/2003 list; Argentine consumer forum; no arbitration clause; no limitation of warranty or liability.
10. Warranty documents. Certificate in Spanish with art. 14 content; process to collect items within 48 hours (Regulations art. 11).
11. Customer service. Hours and channel published; at least 8 hours per business day if remote only (Disp. 954/2025 art. 6).
12. Returns logistics. Prepaid return labels or pickup at your cost; full refund (LDC art. 34; Regulations art. 34).
13. Monitor. Check the RENAI portal by CUIT for your own record and competitors' practice (Disp. 362/2026).

7.2 Handling a national administrative proceeding

1. Notice. The file opens ex officio, on complaint or by communication from another authority; the alleged offender is summoned (LDC art. 45). Filing is electronic through the national platforms (unconfirmed).
2. First filing. Within 5 business days: written defence, evidence, legal address and proof of authority; missing proof of authority must be cured within 5 business days (art. 45).
3. Conciliation. A conciliation homologated by the authority suspends the proceeding (Regulations art. 45(a)). Breaching it is an infraction (LDC art. 46).
4. Evidence. Only for disputed facts; produced within 10 business days; the file and technical checks are sufficient proof unless rebutted (art. 45).
5. Interim cease order. Possible at any time (art. 45).
6. Decision. Within 20 business days after investigation (art. 45).
7. Choose: pay or appeal. Either pay 50% within 10 business days and consent (Regulations art. 45(c)), or file a direct appeal within 10 business days with the authority, depositing the full fine unless it would cause irreparable harm, to the National Court of Appeals in Consumer Relations or the provincial appellate court (LDC art. 45).
8. Publication. Final national sanctions appear on the portal (Disp. 8/2026).

Cost to do it (defending a file): no filing fee is set in the LDC for the defence; counsel fees not sourced (unconfirmed); appeal requires depositing the fine (LDC art. 45). Time: in theory about 2 to 3 months from summons to decision on the statutory terms (5 + 10 + 20 business days plus notifications); actual times are not sourced (unconfirmed).

Worked examples

Facts (assumed). A Spanish company sells clothing to Argentine consumers through a local subsidiary's website and app. An audit in October 2026 finds: (i) no "BOTÓN DE ARREPENTIMIENTO" on the home page, only a returns page inside "My account" that requires login; (ii) prices shown only in US dollars; (iii) no "PRECIO SIN IMPUESTOS NACIONALES" figure; (iv) terms say returns cost the consumer ARS 15,639 (US$ 10); (v) no published adhesion contract link. A consumer files a claim through the Single Federal Window; the national authority opens a file.

Step 1. Checklist of breaches.

Step 2. LDC fine range for one infraction. 0.5 to 2,100 CBT (LDC art. 47(b)). With the arithmetic placeholder of ARS 1,000,000 per CBT (unconfirmed):

• Minimum: 0.5 × 1,000,000 = ARS 500,000 (US$ 319.71).
• Maximum: 2,100 × 1,000,000 = ARS 2,100,000,000 (US$ 1,342,796.85).

Step 3. A plausible scenario (assumption, not a sourced tariff). Suppose the authority fines the button failure at 50 CBT, considering market position and the number of consumers affected (art. 49). 50 × 1,000,000 = ARS 50,000,000 (US$ 31,971.35).

Step 4. Early payment. If the company consents and pays within 10 business days: 50% × 50,000,000 = ARS 25,000,000 (US$ 15,985.68). Check the floor: 25 CBT is above 0.5 CBT, so the reduction applies in full (Regulations art. 45(c)).

Step 5. If it appeals instead. It must deposit ARS 50,000,000 with the appeal (LDC art. 45), forgoes the discount, and the sanction is published once final (Disp. 8/2026).

Step 6. Other exposures. * The other LDC breaches ((iv), (v)) can be fined separately in the same or another file; the law allows sanctions "independently or jointly" (art. 47). Whether the authority adds fines per infraction or sets one global fine is a matter of practice (unconfirmed). * The dollar only pricing can be pursued under DNU 274/2019: 1 to 10,000,000 UM, that is ARS 1,450.05 to ARS 14,500,500,000; a hypothetical 1,000 UM fine is ARS 1,450,050 (US$ 927.20), halved to ARS 725,025 (US$ 463.60) if paid within 10 days (DNU 274/2019 arts. 53 and 57; TDC Res. 6/2026). * The tax disclosure failure exposes each establishment to 2 to 6 days' closure (Law 11.683 art. 40); how this applies to a pure online store is unclear (unconfirmed). * A provincial authority where other consumers live may open its own file (LDC arts. 41 and 42) (unconfirmed). * Recidivism: a new LDC infraction within 5 years aggravates (art. 49).

Step 7. Consumer side. Every consumer who returned goods and paid ARS 15,639 can claim it back; the clause is void. Across 1,000 returns that is 15,639 × 1,000 = ARS 15,639,000 (US$ 10,000) of refunds, plus possible punitive damages claims (section 9).

Cost to do it (remediation): no government fee; development work for the button, request code automation, peso and tax free price display and contract link (unconfirmed); Disp. 954/2025 allowed 60 calendar days for the cancellation button (art. 8), a useful benchmark. Bottom line: fixing costs a fraction of even the minimum scenario fine.

The sources contain no court judgments, so this example uses only statutory figures and clearly labelled inputs.

Facts (assumed). A consumer buys a laptop online for ARS 1,563,900 (US$ 1,000). It fails within the 6 month warranty (LDC art. 11). The seller ignores three repair requests and finally refuses, saying the importer is responsible. The consumer sues the seller and the importer for: refund, the time lost and punitive damages.

Step 1. Liability. Seller and importer are jointly liable for the legal warranty (LDC art. 13). The consumer may opt for refund at current market price (art. 17(b)) or rescission with refund (art. 10 bis(c)), plus damages.

Step 2. Base claim. Refund of the price paid: ARS 1,563,900 (US$ 1,000) (input). Updating to "current market price" under art. 17(b) needs evidence of today's price (unconfirmed).

Step 3. Punitive damages ceiling. Cap = maximum fine in art. 47(b) = 2,100 CBT (art. 52 bis). With the placeholder of ARS 1,000,000 per CBT: 2,100 × 1,000,000 = ARS 2,100,000,000 (US$ 1,342,796.85). The cap is a ceiling, not a target; the award is graded by seriousness and circumstances (art. 52 bis).

Step 4. Ratio check. The ceiling is 2,100,000,000 / 1,563,900 = about 1,343 times the price. Courts grade far below the ceiling in individual cases (unconfirmed); the point for a provider is that the statutory exposure is not tied to the transaction value.

Step 5. Joint liability. Any award is payable jointly by seller and importer, with recourse between them (art. 52 bis). A distribution agreement should allocate this.

Step 6. Interaction with an administrative fine. Suppose the national authority had already fined the seller 10 CBT for the same conduct (assumption): 10 × 1,000,000 = ARS 10,000,000 (US$ 6,394.27), paid at 50% = ARS 5,000,000 (US$ 3,197.14) under Regulations art. 45(c). The judge must take that penalty into account if the total punishment would be excessive (CCyC art. 1714) and may reduce or set aside the civil fine (art. 1715). The administrative fine does not go to the consumer; the civil fine does.

Step 7. Which court. If the national consumer courts are operating, they only hear claims up to 55 SMVM at filing: 55 × 391,200 = ARS 21,516,000 (US$ 13,757.91) (Law 26.993 art. 42; CNEPSMVM Res. 4/2026). A claim adding a large punitive figure above that amount goes to the ordinary courts. The consumer chooses among the courts of the place of consumption, contract, provider or the consumer's domicile (LDC art. 36 for credit; Law 26.993 art. 50; CCyC art. 1109 for distance contracts, where the place of delivery fixes jurisdiction).

Step 8. Litigation cost asymmetry. The consumer enjoys free justice unless the defendant proves solvency through an incident (LDC art. 53); the provider must bring all evidence in its possession (art. 53). A consumer can therefore claim a large punitive figure at low cost.

Summary table (placeholder CBT of ARS 1,000,000, not INDEC):

Practical traps

• Relying on Res. 424/2020. It was repealed on 4 Sep 2025. The current rule is Disp. 954/2025, which requires visibility "on first access" and also covers cancellation.
• Login walls. "No prior registration" still applies; Disp. 3/2026 only allows reasonable identity checks with the exclusive purpose of security.
• Restocking fees and return shipping. Charging either breaches LDC art. 34 and CCyC art. 1115 and is listed as abusive (Res. 53/2003 item (n)).
• "All sales final" banners. Void for distance sales unless a CCyC art. 1116 exception or a Disp. 954/2025 art. 3 exemption applies.
• Foreign currency pricing. Showing dollars only breaches Res. 4/2025 art. 2(a) unless you sell services from, to or abroad (art. 2(h)). DNU 70/2023 allows obligations in foreign currency (new CCyC arts. 765 and 766), but this does not lift the display rule.
• Discriminating against foreign tourists on price is prohibited without authority approval (LDC art. 8 bis).
• Treating COPREC as a step. It no longer exists; do not cite it in terms or customer communications (Decree 55/2025).
• Arbitration and forum clauses. Unenforceable against consumers (CCyC arts. 1651, 1109 and 2654); including them is itself an abusive clause (Res. 53/2003 item (e)).
• Assuming the CBT is small. The cap of 2,100 CBT is in the order of billions of pesos at any realistic CBT value; check the INDEC figure before modelling exposure.
• Appeal economics. Appealing a national fine costs the 50% discount and requires depositing the full fine (LDC art. 45; Regulations art. 45(c)).
• Public record. National sanctions are now online by CUIT (Disp. 8/2026). Factor reputational cost into settlement decisions.
• Marketplace and brand owners. Brand licensors and whoever put their brand on the product are in the joint liability chain (LDC art. 40).
• "Sin interés" claims. The express ban fell with Res. 7/2002, but a misleading claim can still breach DNU 274/2019 art. 11 (unconfirmed).
• Advertising footers. Res. 446/2025 raised the minimum to 4 mm and 5 seconds; templates built for Res. 12/2024 (3 mm, 4 seconds) no longer comply.
• Digital manuals. Accepted only if unalterable, free, printable and with the access location printed on the product or packaging (Disp. 619/2024).

Recent changes

• 21 Dec 2023, DNU 70/2023: repeal of the Supply Law 20.680 (art. 9), the Price Observatory Law 26.992 (art. 5) and the Shelf Law 27.545 (art. 7); new CCyC arts. 765, 766, 958, 960 and 989 (arts. 250 to 254); card law amendments (arts. 14 to 23). The commonly cited pointer that DNU 70/2023 "deregulated" consumer rules is partly confirmed: no article of DNU 70/2023 found in the source amends Law 24.240 itself. The DNU remains subject to legislative and judicial review (unconfirmed).
• 24 Apr 2024: new advertising rule (SIC Res. 12/2024), later replaced.
• 30 May 2024: vulnerable consumers procedure (Disp. 137/2024).
• 8 Jul 2024: tax transparency in prices (Law 27.743 Title VII), effective 1 Jan 2025 per art. 99.
• 11 Sep 2024: receipts limited to contracted items (SIC Res. 267/2024).
• 4 Nov 2024: digital manuals and information accepted (Disp. 619/2024).
• 17 Jan 2025: new price display rule (SIC Res. 4/2025), tax free price from 1 Apr 2025.
• 1 Feb 2025: COPREC dissolved (Decree 55/2025).
• Aug 2025: Single Federal Window (Disp. 890/2025) and SNAC rules (Disp. 892/2025).
• 4 Sep 2025: new withdrawal and cancellation buttons (Disp. 954/2025).
• 3 Nov 2025: new advertising rule with gaming warnings (SIC Res. 446/2025), annex replaced 6 Aug 2026 (Res. 271/2026).
• 6 Feb 2026: identity checks allowed (Disp. 3/2026).
• 5 Mar 2026: RENAI implemented (Disp. 362/2026).
• 11 Mar 2026: new abusive clauses list (Disp. 377/2026).
• 22 May 2026: 50% early payment of national LDC fines (Decree 377/2026).
• 24 Jul 2026: free online publication of national sanctions (Disp. 8/2026).

Pending changes

• Consumer law reform bill. Not in the sources (unconfirmed).
• Res. 1033/2021. Whether it still applies alongside Disp. 954/2025 art. 6 (unconfirmed).
• Law 26.993 remnants. The national consumer courts and art. 50 conciliation requirement after Decree 55/2025 (unconfirmed); the mediation exclusion in Law 26.589 art. 5 (unconfirmed).
• SNAC thresholds. The amount from which law based arbitration may be chosen and the amount for panels are set by the SNAC (Disp. 892/2025 arts. 21 and 46) but not in the sources (unconfirmed).
• ARCA implementation of Law 27.743 art. 99 (unconfirmed).
• Provincial adhesion to the Single Window and to RENAI uploads (Disp. 890/2025 art. 4; Disp. 362/2026 art. 7) (unconfirmed).
• Dropped abusive clauses items (v) to (y) of Res. 994/2021 (unconfirmed).
• Bicameral Commission review of Decree 55/2025 (art. 8) (unconfirmed).

FAQ

1. Does the Consumer Protection Law apply to a foreign company selling online to Argentina without a local entity? Very likely yes in substance. The CCyC applies the law of the consumer's domicile when the offer or advertising was directed there and the consumer acted there, and the consumer may sue in Argentina; no choice of forum is admitted (CCyC arts. 2654 and 2655). The Mercosur e commerce rule covers providers operating under a Mercosur domain (GMC Res. 37/19 art. 10). Administrative enforcement against a seller with no local presence is not addressed in the sources (unconfirmed).

2. Is Res. 424/2020 (the withdrawal button) still in force? No. It was repealed by Disp. SSDCyLC 954/2025 art. 10 (BO 4 Sep 2025), which now requires both a withdrawal button and a cancellation button, visible on first access, with a request code within 24 hours.

3. Can I require customers to log in before they use the button? Not as a general barrier (Disp. 954/2025 arts. 1 and 4). Since 6 Feb 2026 you may require reasonable identity verification steps through usual means, used exclusively for identity and security (Disp. 3/2026 art. 1).

4. Who pays for return shipping when a consumer withdraws? The seller (LDC art. 34; CCyC art. 1115). The consumer only has to make the item available, unused and in the condition received under the national regulation (Regulations art. 34).

5. Can I sell in US dollars? You must display pesos; dollars may be shown in addition. Services provided from, to or abroad may be displayed in dollars (SIC Res. 4/2025 art. 2(a) and (h)). Contracting in dollars is allowed by the CCyC as amended by DNU 70/2023 (arts. 765 and 766), but the display rule still applies.

6. What is the maximum fine? 2,100 CBT for household 3 per LDC infraction (art. 47(b)); for fair trade infractions, 10,000,000 UM, ARS 14,500,500,000 (about US$ 9.27 million) in 2026 (DNU 274/2019 art. 57; TDC Res. 6/2026). The current CBT value must be checked with INDEC (unconfirmed).

7. Is there a discount for paying a fine quickly? Yes. Since 22 May 2026, a national LDC fine can be settled at 50% within 10 business days if you do not appeal, never below 0.5 CBT (Regulations art. 45(c), Decree 377/2026). Fair trade fines have had the same 50% within 10 days since 2019 (DNU 274/2019 art. 53). Provincial rules vary (unconfirmed).

8. Do I still have to attend COPREC hearings? No. COPREC was dissolved from 1 Feb 2025 (Decree 55/2025). Expect claims through the Single Federal Window routed to local authorities, local conciliation services, voluntary SNAC arbitration or court.

9. Can my terms include an arbitration clause or a foreign forum? No. Consumer disputes and adhesion contracts cannot go to contractual arbitration (CCyC art. 1651(c) and (d)); forum clauses in distance contracts are treated as not written (CCyC art. 1109) and no forum choice is admitted in international consumer cases (CCyC art. 2654). You may voluntarily join the public SNAC (Disp. 892/2025).

10. How long is the legal warranty and who gives it? 6 months for new durable goods and 3 months for used ones, from delivery, jointly owed by producer, importer, distributor and seller (LDC arts. 11 and 13).

11. Are punitive damages common and how big can they be? They can be awarded for any breach of legal or contractual duties, at the consumer's request, up to 2,100 CBT (LDC art. 52 bis). The judge must consider other penalties for the same act to avoid excessive punishment (CCyC art. 1714). Frequency and typical sizes are not in the sources (unconfirmed).

12. Must I publish my terms online? Yes, if you use adhesion contracts: on your website and on request in shops, with a sign (LDC art. 38), under a single home page link with the prescribed title (SCI Res. 271/2020).

Primary sources

• Law 24.240, Consumer Protection, updated text (Infoleg)
• Norms amending and complementing Law 24.240 (Infoleg links list)
• Civil and Commercial Code, Law 26.994
• Decree 1798/94, Regulations, updated text
• Decree 377/2026
• Law 26.993, updated text
• Decree 55/2025
• DNU 274/2019, Fair Trade (argentina.gob.ar)
• DNU 70/2023
• Law 27.701 (art. 119)
• Law 27.743
• Law 11.683, tax procedure, updated text
• Law 25.065, credit cards, updated text
• Disp. SSDCyLC 954/2025
• Disp. DNDCyAC 3/2026
• SCI Res. 424/2020 (repealed)
• SC Res. 316/2018 (repealed)
• SCI Res. 270/2020 and GMC Res. 37/19
• SCI Res. 271/2020
• SC Res. 104/2005 and GMC Res. 21/04
• SIC Res. 4/2025
• SC Res. 51/2017
• SIC Res. 446/2025, updated text
• SIC Res. 12/2024 (repealed)
• SIC Res. 267/2024
• SCI Res. 449/2020
• SC Res. 87/2024
• SC Res. 53/2003, updated text
• Disp. SSDCyLC 377/2026
• Disp. SSDCyLC 619/2024
• Disp. SSDCyLC 137/2024
• Disp. SSDCyLC 890/2025
• Disp. SSDCyLC 892/2025
• Disp. SSDCyLC 362/2026
• Disp. DNDCyAC 8/2026
• SCI Res. 1033/2021, updated text
• SCI Res. 244/2020
• TDC Res. 6/2026, Unidad Móvil 2026
• CNEPSMVM Res. 4/2026, minimum wage
• Law 26.589, mediation, updated text

Related pages

• AML and KYC in Argentina: UIF obligations for companies, banks and other reporting parties
• Corporate criminal liability and compliance programs in Argentina: Law 27.401
• Competition law and merger control in Argentina
• Personal data protection in Argentina: Law 25.326 compliance for businesses
• Intellectual property in Argentina: trademarks, patents, copyright, software, trade secrets and technology transfer
• Do I need to register my databases with the AAIP?
• How much does it cost to register a trademark in Argentina?