Climate change: ‘Right to repair’ gathers force – BBC News
‘It is frustrating: you buy a new appliance then just after the warranty runs out, it gives up the ghost.’
BBC News, 9th January 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: consumer protection
Energy suppliers to face tighter rules, says Ofgem – BBC News
‘Energy regulator Ofgem is to tighten up the rules for new suppliers of gas and electricity after nine new entrants ceased trading.’
BBC News, 9th January 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Nuisance call bosses face £500,000 fines – BBC News
‘Directors of firms that cold-call consumers can now be fined up to £500,000 under new rules that have come into force.’
BBC News, 17th December 2018
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Watchdog plans purge of rip-off rates for loyal broadband customers – The Guardian
‘The UK media regulator, Ofcom, is to crack down on broadband providers who rip off loyal customers by offering better deals to new subscribers.’
The Guardian, 14th December 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Oxbridge applicants misled by personal statements company, Advertising Standards Authority rules – Daily Telegraph
‘Oxbridge applicants purchasing £150 pre-written personal statement were misled after believing they could pass them off as their own work, the Advertising Standards Authority has ruled.’
Daily Telegraph, 12th December 2018
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Watchdog hangs up on excessive directory inquiries charges – The Guardian
‘The price of directory inquiries calls will be capped from April to protect consumers from excessively high charges, with some firms currently charging almost £20 for a 90-second call.’
The Guardian, 28th November 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
City watchdog steps up its inquiries into ‘crypto’ firms – Daily Telegraph
‘As the price of the controversial “cryptocurrency” Bitcoin plunges, new figures show that the City watchdog is stepping up its investigations into the murky sector.’
Daily Telegraph, 25th November 2018
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Price cap plan to clamp down on high rent-to-own fees – The Guardian
‘The City watchdog has proposed a price cap on rent-to-own companies in a clampdown on “excessive charges” expected to save 300,000 vulnerable customers up to £22.7m a year.’
The Guardian, 22nd November 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
EE and Virgin Media fined £13.3m for overcharging customers – The Guardian
‘Virgin Media and EE have been fined a combined £13.3m by the regulator Ofcom for overcharging nearly 500,000 phone and broadband customers who wanted to leave their contracts early.@
The Guardian, 16th November 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Legal Services Board approves new SRA Handbook in full – Legal Futures
‘The Legal Services Board (LSB) has approved the new SRA Handbook, including the controversial proposal to allow solicitors to provide unreserved services to the public from unregulated businesses.’
Legal Futures, 6th November 2018
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Watchdog investigates firms over hidden fees – Daily Telegraph
‘A number of financial services firms that have failed to transparently declare what they charge their customers are being investigated by the industry watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).’
Daily Telegraph, 8th October 2018
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Consumer loyalty ‘rip off’ faces probe – BBC News
‘The accusation that loyal customers are being “ripped off” for mobile, broadband, savings, home insurance and mortgage deals is to be investigated by the competition body.’
BBC News, 28th September 2018
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Pensions Ombudsman revamps approach to ‘distress and inconvenience’ awards – OUT-LAW.com
‘The UK’s Pensions Ombudsman has introduced a fixed-amount award to compensate individuals who have suffered “distress and inconvenience” as a result of the maladministration of a pensions scheme.’
OUT-LAW.com, 17th September 2018
Source: www.out-law.com
Firm to pay indemnity costs after “premature” GLO application – Litigation Futures
‘A law firm which “prematurely” issued a group litigation order (GLO) application to bring VW emissions claims ahead of other firms has been hit with an indemnity costs order by the High Court.’
Litigation Futures, 5th September 2018
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Consumer panel will tell government “uncomfortable truths” over legal aid – Legal Futures
‘The Legal Services Consumer Panel is ready to tell the government some “uncomfortable truths” about legal aid, its new chair has said.’
Legal Futures, 4th September 2018
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Pensions Ombudsman to overhaul dispute resolution – OUT-LAW.com
‘The Pensions Ombudsman is planning to overhaul the way it handles pensions disputes over the coming year, it has said.’
OUT-LAW.com, 24th August 2018
Source: www.out-law.com
Celebrities and social media stars under the spotlight for hidden endorsements – Technology Law Update
‘UK enforcement watchdog the Competition and Markets Authority is opening an investigation into whether social media stars are being open about paid-for endorsements.’
Technology Law Update, 20th August 2018
Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk
New body outlines plans to strengthen UK product safety regime – OUT-LAW.com
‘The recently-launched UK body charged with overseeing product safety has unveiled plans to strengthen the regulatory regime for product safety and standards, including proposals to set up a national incident management team capable of coordinating large scale product recall and repair programmes.’
OUT-LAW.com, 15th August 2018
Source: www.out-law.com
Amazon told to clarify ‘misleading’ one-day delivery claim – Daily Telegraph
‘Companies must provide easy access to compensation if they fail to deliver shopping on time, a consumer group has urged, after Amazon was ordered to clarify its “misleading” one-day delivery claim for Prime customers.’
Daily Telegraph, 15th August 2018
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
