site.btaThree Public Advocates to Handle Complaints against Sofia's Heating Utility

Three Public Advocates to Handle Complaints against Sofia's Heating Utility

Sofia, August 13 (BTA) - Three ombudspersons will mediate
disputes between the capital's residents and the Toplofikacia
Sofia district heating company.

The public advocates selected by a commission of municipal
councillors for a two-year term are Ralitsa Petkova, Deyan
Dyankov and Gergana Nikolova, who were presented to the media on
 Thursday.

Dyankov said that 17 people had questions and written complaints
 for the public advocates in three workdays.

The Sofia Municipal Council set up the office of the ombudsman
with the capital's heating company in September 2014 to enhance
confidence in it. The public advocates form an impartial,
independent dispute resolution unit. They deal with alerts and
cases of consumers who have already complained to the company
but are not happy with the result. Matters referred to a law
court will be an important part of their work. They will also
provide conciliation services leading to out-of-court
settlements between customers and the company. The
ombudspersons' reports to the Municipal Council will identify
the areas of most frequent violations of consumer rights.

The monthly salary of a public advocate at Toplofikacia Sofia 
will amount to four minimum wages.

Municipal Council Chairman Elen Gerdjikov said the ombudspersons
 were expected to improve work with customers, and recalled the
protests of 2013 against the outdated regulations on the heating
 utilities' operation.