Legal Services Board approves new SRA Handbook in full – Legal Futures

Posted November 7th, 2018 in consumer protection, legal services, news, social services by sally

‘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.’

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Legal Futures, 6th November 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Watchdog investigates firms over hidden fees – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 9th, 2018 in consumer protection, fees, financial regulation, news by tracey

‘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).’

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Daily Telegraph, 8th October 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Consumer loyalty ‘rip off’ faces probe – BBC News

Posted September 28th, 2018 in competition, consumer protection, insurance, mortgages, news, telecommunications by tracey

‘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.’

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BBC News, 28th September 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pensions Ombudsman revamps approach to ‘distress and inconvenience’ awards – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 18th, 2018 in compensation, complaints, consumer protection, maladministration, news, pensions by sally

‘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.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 17th September 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Trust in solicitors a key issue when consumers choose barristers – Legal Futures

Posted September 17th, 2018 in barristers, consumer protection, legal services, news, solicitors by sally

‘Consumers tend to shop around or use a public access barrister and ignore their solicitor’s recommendation when trust had broken down, according to Bar Standards Board-commissioned (BSB) research.

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Legal Futures, 17th September 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Firm to pay indemnity costs after “premature” GLO application – Litigation Futures

Posted September 5th, 2018 in class actions, consumer protection, costs, law firms, news by sally

‘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.’

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Litigation Futures, 5th September 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Consumer panel will tell government “uncomfortable truths” over legal aid – Legal Futures

Posted September 4th, 2018 in consumer protection, legal aid, Legal Services Board, news by sally

‘The Legal Services Consumer Panel is ready to tell the government some “uncomfortable truths” about legal aid, its new chair has said.’

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Legal Futures, 4th September 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Pensions Ombudsman to overhaul dispute resolution – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 28th, 2018 in complaints, consumer protection, dispute resolution, news, pensions by sally

‘The Pensions Ombudsman is planning to overhaul the way it handles pensions disputes over the coming year, it has said.’

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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

Posted August 21st, 2018 in advertising, competition, consumer protection, news by sally

‘UK enforcement watchdog the Competition and Markets Authority is opening an investigation into whether social media stars are being open about paid-for endorsements.’

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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

Posted August 16th, 2018 in codes of practice, consumer protection, health & safety, news, reports by sally

‘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.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 15th August 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Amazon told to clarify ‘misleading’ one-day delivery claim – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 15th, 2018 in advertising, consumer protection, electronic commerce, news by sally

‘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.’

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Daily Telegraph, 15th August 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Gambling operators can expect requests for data for research into harm – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 13th, 2018 in consumer protection, gambling, news by sally

‘Gambling companies operating in Britain will be asked to disclose more data to help inform research into harmful play.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 10th August 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Warning over online GPs as struck-off doctor discovered using loophole to prescribe ‘unsafe’ drugs – Daily Telegraph

‘The health care regulator is calling for greater powers to protect patients from online GPs after a struck-off doctor was discovered using a loophole to prescribe “unsafe” drugs.’

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Daily Telegraph, 6th August 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

UK loan-based crowdfunding platforms face tighter regulation – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 31st, 2018 in consumer protection, financial regulation, loans, news by sally

‘The largest loan-based crowdfunding platforms operating in the UK could be required to establish “an independent compliance function” and “independent risk and internal audit functions”, according to new rules proposed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).’

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OUT-LAW.com, 31st July 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

UK regulators could enforce minimum interest rate for savers – The Guardian

Posted July 26th, 2018 in banking, consumer protection, financial regulation, interest, news by sally

‘Banks could be forced to pay savers a minimum interest rate after City regulators found that longstanding customers in instant access accounts are paid derisory rates because of their apathy about switching providers.’

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The Guardian, 25th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Financial regulator mulls ‘duty of care’ and new damages regime – OUT-LAW.com

‘The FCA is seeking views on whether there is a need for a new customer “duty of care” or “fiduciary duty”, or whether the existing rules already provide sufficient protections for consumers. It is also seeking views on a new right for consumers to seek private damages against firms which have breached the new duty or the regulatory principles set out in the FCA Handbook, particularly the requirement to “treat customers fairly”.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 23rd July 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Government orders Phillip Morris to stop advertising “healthier” tobacco products or face legal action – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 19th, 2018 in advertising, consumer protection, news, smoking by tracey

‘The Government will take one of the world’s largest tobacco firms to court unless it stops illegally targeting UK consumers with tobacco adverts, a Minister has said.’

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Daily Telegraph, 18th July 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Safestyle UK: Window firm fined for ‘aggressive sales’ – BBC News

Posted July 17th, 2018 in advertising, consumer protection, fines, news, regulations by tracey

‘A double-glazing windows and doors firm which used aggressive sales techniques and lied to customers to secure sales has been fined £120,000. Sheffield Crown Court heard Safestyle UK employees used a variety of “unlawful business practices” to apply pressure to homeowners.

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BBC News, 16th July 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Battle lines drawn as papers filed in VW case – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The law firm taking Volkswagen (VW) to court on behalf of more than 50,000 UK car owners has accused the car giant of insulting consumers’ intelligence by refusing to admit wrongdoing in the alleged emissions cheating scandal.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 9th July 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK fertility regulator to issue new rules on expensive IVF add-ons – The Guardian

Posted July 9th, 2018 in assisted reproduction, consumer protection, fees, news by sally

‘IVF patients will need to be told when expensive “add-ons” to fertility treatments are not likely to be effective, under new rules due to be issued to clinics later this year.’

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The Guardian, 9th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com