Anyone who ascertains a possible breach of the Kijkwijzer rules, is entitled to submit a complaint.
Complaints must be submitted to NICAM in writing within two weeks of the breach being ascertained.
If a possible breach of the Kijkwijzer rules is involved, the complaint may be handled by an independent Complaints Committee.
A judgement will be given approximately four weeks after handling of the complaint by the Complaints Committee.
Objections to the judgement of the Complaints Committee will be heard by an independent Appeals Committee.
To submit a complaint, use the form below. You can also request a form from NICAM. Address: Postbus 322 ,1200 AH, Hilversum, the Netherlands. Telephone: 0900 1612600 (15 ct p/m)
All organisations and companies affiliated to NICAM are obliged to classify their audio-visual productions in accordance to the Kijkwijzer rules. The Kijkwijzer classifications must also be adequately displayed. If you believe that the rules have been infringed, you may submit a complaint to NICAM within two weeks of ascertaining this. Use the complaints form on this website for this, or request one from NICAM.
N.B.! Complaints about the thematics, good-bad taste and/or the decency of films or television programmes cannot be submitted to NICAM and the Complaints Committee. Such complaints must be submitted directly to the supplier in question.
Examples of breaches:
• A television programme or film has a classification other than what one would reasonably expect.
• A broadcaster transmits a television programme or film at a time other than that permitted by the classification (12 years after 20.00 hours, 16 years after 22.00 hours).
• The supporting programme of a film with the classification All Ages includes a promotional trailer not aimed at children of All Ages.
• There is an incorrect classification on the cover of a video or DVD.
Complaints processing
Complaints are always first processed at NICAM`s office. If a possible breach of the Kijkwijzer rules is ascertained, the complaint is then forwarded to the independent NICAM Complaints Committee. In all cases, you will receive a reply to your complaint with grounds, even if the complaint is not taken further by the Complaints Committee.
The Complaints Committee will hear the complaint in session. Both the complainant and the plaintiff are given an opportunity to make a verbal statement of their position.
Following the session, you will receive a written judgement from the Complaints Committee within approximately four weeks. The judgements of the Complaints Committee can also be found on the Kijkwijzer website. See Judgements by the Complaints Committee.
Sanctions
If the Complaints Committee judges that the Kijkwijzer rules have indeed not been correctly applied, a number of options are open to the Complaints Committee. The Complaints Committee may order that the classification be amended or the broadcast time changed, but it is also possible for sanctions to be imposed. Sanctions vary from a warning to a financial penalty. The level of the penalty can reach a maximum of € 135,000.
Appeal
The party found to be in the wrong will have the opportunity to institute an appeal against the judgement of the Complaints Committee with the Appeals Committee. The appeal must be submitted to NICAM in writing within four weeks of the date of judgement by the Complaints Committee. Depending on the findings of the Appeals Committee, the judgement against which the appeal was launched will be confirmed, overturned or referred back to the Complaints Committee for reconsideration.
Accelerated procedure
It is also possible to instigate an accelerated procedure. This means that the case will be processed within approximately two weeks. Both the party making the complaint and the organisation against which the complaint is directed may submit a request to this end with grounds, but it is also possible for NICAM to instigate an accelerated procedure. In most cases, an accelerated procedure will concern a complaint about a cinema release. It is important that this is processed quickly, as a short time later the DVD cover will be printed and it is important that this bears the correct classification.
