An online pilot scheme for the small claims is to be unveiled today by the Courts Service.
With the touch of a button, unhappy shoppers will be able to make complaints to the court via the internet.
The scheme will give residents in 16 towns access to the legal system without the hassle of attending a court office.
The new system enables complainants to lodge their small claims application and use a pin number to monitor the progress of the application through the small claims process. The €15 application to the Small Claims Court can be made for claims of up to €2,000.
Last year 2,697 small claims were dealt with by the court service, with 2,114 - 78 per cent - settled or decided in favour of the claimant.
From the total, 55 per cent of claims were settled by the registrar without a court hearing, 310 were decreed by default, 303 were not proceeded with and 560 were sent to court for hearing.
Of the 560 cases that went to court 336 were allowed, 76 dismissed and 148 withdrawn or struck out. Many had been settled.