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The Defensoría del Consumidor recovered US$6.3 million for consumers during the first four months of 2026, as a result of handling individual and collective cases, reported the agency’s president, Ricardo Salazar, during a radio interview.
The official explained that, between january 1 and april 30 of this year, more than 37,000 users made use of the various services provided by the Agency, reflecting a sustained increase in the demand for assistance and support from salvadoran consumers.
Salazar detailed that more than 5,000 cases have already been closed during this period, benefiting the same number of people through mediation, conciliation, and conflict resolution processes related to the consumption of goods and services.
Of the US$6.3 million recovered, US$2.8 million, equivalent to 44%, corresponds to collective cases, primarily related to real estate issues. Individual cases represent the remaining 56%, with a total of US$3.5 million recovered for affected consumers.
The head of the institution indicated that the financial, services, telecommunications, appliance, and real estate sectors account for 75% of all cases handled during the first four months of the year.
He also explained that the main reasons for complaints are related to improper charges and fees, the application of commissions, breaches of contracts and offers, inquiries about over-indebtedness, and complaints about poor quality products and services.
According to Salazar, the Defensoría del Consumidorreceived 6,100 complaints in the first four months of 2026 alone. He compared this figure to records from a decade ago, when between 6,000 and 8,000 cases represented the volume of cases handled in an entire year.
The president of the institution also highlighted the growth of digital and non-face-to-face mechanisms. He indicated that 70% of services are provided through channels such as the 910-emergency number and the WhatsApp service enabled by the Defensoría del Consumidor, which has facilitated public access to guidance and complaint services.
These statements were made during the program “Punto de Vista,” where the official presented the institution’s main achievements in protecting consumer rights during the first months of 2026.
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