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Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
- Do the disabled or persons over 75 years of age have the right to have door-to-door mail delivery?
- There are often errors in mail delivery. What can I do to make things better?
- How far from my home can the postal operator oblige me to place my mailbox? Where can I complain about such a decision?
- The parcel/letter I sent by mail disappeared/arrived late. Who can I file a complaint against for compensation?
- In my opinion, there is a clear drop in the quality of the content of TV programmes. Who is responsible for monitoring this?
- Advertising banners are frequently shown on television programmes, which means that e.g. a third of the screen is covered during broadcasting. Is this permitted?
- How is the use of sponsor identifiers regulated?
- I am distracted by the numerous commercials during TV programmes. Is there any legislation that restricts the broadcasting of commercials?
Answers
Do the disabled or persons over 75 years of age have the right to have door-to-door mail delivery?
The disabled and persons over 75 years of age have the right, if they so request, to have their mail delivered either to a letterbox placed at the boundary of their lot of land where there is a driveway or other access to the lot or in an apartment-specific mail drop. In order to receive the service, all mail recipients in the household must fulfil the criteria set for this special service that is free of charge. The service concerns basic delivery i.e. letters delivered during the day. However, the morning delivery of newspapers is excluded.
There are often errors in mail delivery. What can I do to make things better?
First, contact the postal service operator. If the interruptions in mail delivery still continue, you can file a written complaint and request the postal service operator to provide a written answer. If this will not help or the postal operator's clarification is unsatisfactory, you can contact FICORA. Provide your request with the postal operator's answer and tell us what has gone missing and when it went missing.
How far from my home can the postal operator oblige me to place my mailbox? Where can I complain about such a decision?
According to the Act on Postal Services, letters must be delivered to a mailbox located within a reasonable distance from the address location of the addressee. In densely-populated areas, a reasonable one-way distance to a mailbox, according to FICORA's instructions, is 50 metres. In sparsely-populated areas, a reasonable distance is no more than 300 to 500 metres, but can be up to one kilometre in exceptional cases. Each municipality's building inspection authorities make decisions on disputes about the placing of mail boxes. In its decision-making, building inspection authorities must take into consideration FICORA's general guidelines on the placing of mailboxes.
The parcel/letter I sent by mail disappeared/arrived late. Who can I file a complaint against for compensation?
According to Section 19 of the Act on Postal Services, the postal operator is liable for damage caused to the sender or addressee of an item by the delay or loss of or damage to the item. Section 20 of the Act, on the other hand, lays down provisions on the postal operators' limitation of liability.
Matters regarding agreement relations or liabilities between the postal operator and customer do not fall within the authority of FICORA. Unless an understanding on the compensation is reached, consumer customers can contact consumer advisers who can assist in negotiations and, if necessary, assist in bringing the matter to the Consumer Disputes Board. However, obtaining an enforceable decision requires that the matter on the liability for damage will be taken to the general court of first instance for handling.
In my opinion, there is a clear drop in the quality of the content of TV programmes. Who is responsible for monitoring this?
It is the TV channels that are responsible for their programme provision within their licence conditions. The websites of TV channels normally provide an opportunity for giving feedback. FICORA has the authority to monitor the content of TV programmes within the framework of the Act on Television and Radio Operations only. There are no restrictive provisions on the quality of TV programmes except for violent or sexual content. Such content must not be broadcast at a time when children watch television provided that they may contribute negatively to children's development.
Advertising banners are frequently shown on television programmes, which means that e.g. a third of the screen is covered during broadcasting. Is this permitted?
Television viewers must be able to recognize television advertising and commercials must be distinguishable from the rest of the programme by visual or acoustic signals. One way of distinguishing advertising from the rest of the programme is by using the so-called split screen function. In other words, it is permitted to use the split screen technology in advertising.
How is the use of sponsor identifiers regulated?
Sponsoring is permitted in context with other programmes than news and current affairs programmes. The name or logo of the sponsor must be clearly shown in the beginning or end of sponsored programmes. Likewise, it is prohibited to encourage viewers to buy the products or services provided by the sponsor.
I am distracted by the numerous commercials during TV programmes. Is there any legislation that restricts the broadcasting of commercials?
Each 60-minute sequence of programme may contain no more than 12 minutes of advertising. In addition to these 12 minutes, it is possible to broadcast advertising promoting the television operator's own activities, such as programme advertising. However, if the advertising of own activities contains commercial elements, such as price information of products and services, suggestions to buy or offers, which do not directly concern the supplementary products related to programme activities, it is regarded to be included in the 12 minutes allowed for advertising.
