Category: consumer protection

Modern Slavery: 5 Ways To Know If A Company Is Serious About Tackling It – Rights Info

Posted October 24th, 2019 in consumer protection, forced labour, news by sally

‘Modern slavery exists, in large part, because of our buying habits. Because we want a bargain, businesses respond by offering low prices. To lower prices, businesses look for cheap labour, which has helped fuel the growth of international supply chains where goods and services are sourced from places where, among other things, labour is cheap and labour laws are lax.’

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Rights Info, 24th October 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

Browser Generated Information: “loss of control” entitles search engine users to compensation – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 7th, 2019 in appeals, class actions, compensation, consumer protection, damages, data protection, EC law, news, privacy, service out of jurisdiction by tracey

‘Richard Lloyd v. Google LLC [2019] EWCA Civ 1599. The Court of Appeal has ruled that a claimant can recover damages for loss of control of their data under section 13 of Data Protection Act 1998 without proving pecuniary loss or distress. The first instance judge, Warby J, had dismissed Mr Lloyd’s application for permission to serve Google outside the jurisdiction in the USA, so preventing the claim getting under way.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 4th October 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Watchdog threatens to refer JD Sports takeover – BBC News

Posted September 19th, 2019 in competition, consumer protection, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘JD Sports’ takeover of Footasylum is facing greater scrutiny after the competition watchdog warned it could result in “a worse shopping experience for customers”. The Competition and Markets Authority will refer the £90m deal to a “phase 2” investigation, which means it will take a more in-depth look at the tie-up.’

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BBC News, 19th September 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Report on legal services regulation presents case for further reform – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 18th, 2019 in consumer protection, legal services, Legal Services Board, news, reports by tracey

‘The potential harm to consumers arising from enduring weaknesses in legal services regulation justifies further reform, says a report published today by University College London’s Centre for Ethics and Law.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 17th September 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

EasyJet accused of ignoring rules for ‘failing to book passengers on other airlines after cancelled flights’ – The Independent

Posted August 12th, 2019 in airlines, consumer protection, news by tracey

‘Britain’s biggest budget airline, easyJet, is refusing to comply with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) rules on cancelled flights by failing to book seats on rival carriers where necessary.’

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The Independent, 12th August 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ladbrokes Coral fined after customer lost £98,000 – BBC News

Posted July 31st, 2019 in consumer protection, fines, gambling, money laundering, news by sally

‘The owner of Ladbrokes Coral has been fined £5.9m for not protecting vulnerable customers and for failings in its anti-money laundering measures.’

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BBC News, 31st July 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Competition watchdog warns Viagogo court action will continue – The Guardian

Posted July 19th, 2019 in competition, consumer protection, contempt of court, news, sport by tracey

‘The competition regulator has warned Viagogo that contempt of court proceedings against it will continue, despite a legal ruling that the controversial ticket resale company has hailed as a victory.’

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The Guardian, 18th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Aldi censured over misleading advert suggesting shoppers could save 45% by switching from Tesco – The Independent

Posted July 17th, 2019 in advertising, consumer protection, food, news by tracey

‘Tesco has succeeded in having Aldi censured over an advert that misled customers about the potential savings to be had by switching to the cut-price competitor.’

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The Independent, 16th July 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Dyson ad banned for giving impression fan was cordless – The Independent

Posted July 17th, 2019 in advertising, complaints, consumer protection, media, news by tracey

‘A Dyson television advert has been banned for misleading customers into thinking a high-tech fan was cordless when in fact it required a plug.’

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The Independent, 16th July 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

FCA proposes ban on cryptocurrency products – The Guardian

Posted July 3rd, 2019 in consumer protection, cryptocurrencies, electronic commerce, financial regulation, news by sally

‘The UK’s markets regulator has proposed a ban on financial instruments linked to digital “cryptocurrencies” such as Bitcoin, warning that such products could cause huge losses for retail consumers unlikely to understand their risks or value.’

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The Guardian, 3rd July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Costs awarded against council after failed ‘secondary ticketing’ prosecution – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 3rd, 2019 in consumer protection, costs, local government, news, statutory duty, time limits, weights and measures by sally

‘Costs have been awarded against North Yorkshire County Council in a case over the prosecution of ticket resellers, despite a judge saying she was reluctant to do so.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 2nd July 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Pret allergy death: Parents ‘delighted’ by ‘Natasha’s law’ plan – BBC News

Posted June 25th, 2019 in allergies, bills, consumer protection, food, news by sally

‘A law protecting allergy sufferers will be introduced following the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse.’

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BBC News, 25th June 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Consumers being badly advised on pensions, says regulator – The Guardian

Posted June 19th, 2019 in consumer protection, financial advice, financial regulation, news, pensions by tracey

‘The City watchdog has raised fresh concerns that thousands of consumers are being wrongly advised to cash in their defined benefit pension, putting them at greater risk of financial insecurity in old age.’

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The Guardian, 19th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK firms overcharging loyal customers could soon face instant fines – The Guardian

Posted June 18th, 2019 in consumer protection, contracts, fines, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘Firms that exploit consumer loyalty by overcharging longstanding customers could soon face instant fines under plans unveiled by the government.’

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The Guardian, 18th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Whirlpool told to recall dryers in ‘unprecedented’ government move – BBC News

Posted June 12th, 2019 in consumer protection, fire, health & safety, news by tracey

‘The government is to issue an “unprecedented” recall notice of up to 500,000 Whirlpool tumble dryers which pose a fire safety risk.’

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BBC News, 12th June 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

City regulator bans high overdraft fees to reform ‘dysfunctional’ market – The Guardian

Posted June 7th, 2019 in banking, consumer protection, debts, fees, financial services ombudsman, news, penalties by tracey

‘The City regulator has accused UK banks of causing “significant harm” to their most vulnerable customers as it pushes ahead with a ban on excessive overdraft fees.’

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The Guardian, 7th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Phone and broadband firms to be forced to tell customers if they could be on cheaper deals under new Ofcom rules – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 15th, 2019 in codes of practice, consumer protection, contracts, news, ombudsmen, telecommunications by sally

‘Broadband, TV, mobile and home phone companies will have to tell customers when their contract is coming to an end and show them the best deals available under new rules unveiled by Ofcom.

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Daily Telegraph, 15th May 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ticket resellers win tribunal case over action taken by trading standards team – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 26th, 2019 in appeals, consumer protection, licensing, local government, news, penalties, time limits, trading standards, tribunals by sally

‘Four ticket resellers have won a case in the First-Tier Tribunal, which ruled that North Yorkshire County Council took action out of time.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th April 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Sainsbury’s-Asda merger blocked by regulator – BBC News

Posted April 25th, 2019 in competition, consumer protection, food, mergers, news by tracey

‘The proposed merger between Sainsbury’s and Asda has been blocked by the UK’s competition watchdog over fears it would raise prices for consumers.’

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BBC News, 25th April 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Merricks v MasterCard: Collective Actions Reinvigorated – Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

Posted April 17th, 2019 in class actions, competition, consumer credit, consumer protection, news by tracey

‘The Court of Appeal today gave its much-anticipated judgment in the application to bring collective proceedings against MasterCard: see Merricks v MasterCard Incorporated and others [2019] EWCA Civ 674. It is a major victory for the Applicant and will reinvigorate the collective proceedings regime, which has seen disappointingly few cases brought since its introduction in 2015.’

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Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 16th April 2019

Source: competitionbulletin.com