The Finnish Consumer Agency and Consumer Ombudsman must be particularly active in areas that are of particular significance to consumers or are thought to be a source of problems for consumers most frequently. The Consumer Agency must also generate proposals and initiatives for improving consumer protection. (Act on the Consumer Agency, Section 1)

Each year, the Consumer Agency receives thousands of reports and other notifications from consumers, businesses, other authorities, and organisations. The Consumer Agency can also intervene in problems it has observed on its own initiative.

A report or other initial stimulus is assessed to weigh the seriousness of the matter and the extent of the impact it may have before a decision is made on how to proceed. If necessary, it is possible to intervene in the operations of an individual business quite quickly, but most reports are processed collectively as part of a larger whole. A particular issue may also give rise to several different actions, such as

• informing, negotiating with, cautioning, or sanctioning a particular business (injunction, taking a matter to Market Court)
• issuing information for an entire business sector (compiled feedback, sector-wide or subject-specific memos, public service announcements, position statements, marketing instructions, negotiations for standard contract terms, training cooperation)
• issuing information to educate consumers (frequently asked questions, sample complaints and other Internet guidance, reports and comparisons, Kuluttaja magazine and consumer education materials)
• information exchange and participating in national and international collaboration along with other authorities
• legislative initiatives and other position statements (Current Issues on Consumer Law web magazine, announcements, networks)
• consumer assistance (individual lawsuits, group complaints, class action)

The Agency's activities in consumer law can be roughly divided into three areas:

• basic supervision,
• projects with special areas of emphasis and
• current issues.

The methods mentioned above may be used in any of these areas.