Watchdog to compare the market for price comparison websites – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 29th, 2016 in competition, consumer protection, internet, news by tracey

‘Price comparison websites will be scrutinised by the competition watchdog as it considers how the tools benefit consumers and competition.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 29th September 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Horsemeat scandal: Three men face trial over conspiring to sell contaminated meat as beef – The Independent

Posted September 28th, 2016 in conspiracy, consumer protection, food, fraud, news by sally

‘Three men have appeared in court over allegations they passed horsemeat off as beef.’

Full story

The Independent, 27th September 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Law Society and Bar Council condemn regulators for “attacks” on profession – Legal Futures

Posted September 23rd, 2016 in barristers, consumer protection, legal services, news, solicitors by sally

‘The Law Society has raised its opposition to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) plan to allow practising solicitors to operate from unregulated law firms to an unprecedented level, issuing a report that said there would be little or no economic benefit from the move.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 23rd September 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

MasterCard sued for £14bn in largest ever British legal claim – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2016 in class actions, competition, consumer credit, consumer protection, EC law, fees, news, tribunals by tracey

‘Credit card group MasterCard is being sued for £14bn, the largest legal claim in British history, in a landmark lawsuit over allegations that it overcharged 46m UK consumers.’

Full story

The Guardian, 8th September 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Amazon Dash button launch may run into problems with EU law, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 5th, 2016 in consumer protection, contracts, EC law, electronic commerce, news, sale of goods by sally

‘Amazon launched its Dash button service in Europe this week, providing users with Wi-Fi connected ‘buttons’ to order products such as toilet paper and washing powder.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 2nd September 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Walkers Crisps holiday competition advert banned following complaints – The Guardian

Posted August 17th, 2016 in advertising, complaints, consumer protection, news by sally

‘An advert for a Walkers Crisps competition offering 20,000 holidays has been banned after more than 100 consumers complained that the trips on offer were virtually impossible to win.’

Full story

The Guardian, 17th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Watchdog demands banking overhaul to save customers money – The Guardian

Posted August 9th, 2016 in banking, competition, consumer protection, news by sally

‘A package of measures intended to help customers save £92 a year by switching their bank accounts has been unveiled by the competition watchdog after a two-year investigation into the sector.’

Full story

The Guardian, 9th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Trading standards institute: consumers are no longer protected – The Guardian

‘Trading standards officers have accused the government of failing to protect consumers after it emerged that the local council budget for policing rogue traders has fallen to just £1.99 a year per citizen.’

Full story

The Guardian, 7th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Strengthen rules on premium rate texts, says regulator – BBC News

‘Rules should be strengthened to avoid mobile users being hit by unexpected charges on premium rate texts, a regulator has said.’

Full story

BBC News, 5th August 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mother sues Argos for £20m over ‘unsafe baby car seat’ after urgent recall – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 5th, 2016 in consumer protection, health & safety, news, sale of goods by tracey

‘A mother is suing Argos for a £20 million over an allegedly “unsafe baby car seat” she says “put her son’s life at risk.” ‘

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th August 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Claims Management Regulator – Misleading marketing statements – Ministry of Justice

‘We have put together a list of misleading statements which demonstrate some of the types of advertising and marketing that is not compliant with our rules.’

Full text

Ministry of Justice, 29th July 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Universities getting better on consumer law issues, but work still to be done, says CMA – OUT-LAW.com

‘Awareness among universities of their responsibilities under consumer protection law is increasing, although some poor practices remain, the UK’s competition watchdog has found.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 26th July 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Making lawyers publish “average” prices will energise consumers, says panel – Legal Futures

‘The Legal Services Consumer Panel said last week that it was “not blind to the challenges of increased price transparency”, but insisted that making lawyers publish “average” prices could be the catalyst for making consumers ask more questions about cost.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 25th July 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Keep price comparison sites as they are, say MPs – BBC News

Posted July 22nd, 2016 in competition, consumer protection, internet, news by sally

‘MPs on the Energy Committee have written to the new business secretary to demand no change to the current rules on price comparison websites.’

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BBC News, 21st July 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Consumer Prepayments on Retailer Insolvency – Law Commission

‘This project is complete. We laid our report before Parliament on 13 July 2016 and await the Government’s response.
This project, which was commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), considered whether greater protection is needed for consumers who lose deposits or gift vouchers when retailers or other service providers become insolvent.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 14th July 2016

Source: http://www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission

‘Radical’ handbook reforms will widen access to justice, SRA says – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority insists its “radical” handbook reforms will widen access to justice, acknowledging that certain safeguards will be needed if solicitors are given greater freedom to deliver legal services outside regulated firms.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 14th July 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

FCA will look to ensure consumer protection and support for fintech innovation in crowdfunding review, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 12th, 2016 in consumer protection, disclosure, financial regulation, news by sally

‘The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will look to ensure that consumers are sufficiently protected against the risks inherent in crowdfunding while supporting innovation in the growing market in a forthcoming review of its regulation of the industry, an expert has said.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 11th July 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Court of Appeal ruling ‘provides extra ammunition’ in fight against sale of counterfeit goods online, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

‘A new ruling by the Court of Appeal in London “provides extra ammunition” to brands in their fight against the sale of counterfeit goods online, an expert has said.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 7th July 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Who regulates? – Competition and regulation in the legal sector – Legal Futures

Posted July 7th, 2016 in competition, consumer protection, conveyancing, legal services, news by sally

‘Regulation is put into place because markets are not perfect. Legal services are infrequent purchases for most people, so the asymmetry of knowledge and power between provider and consumer is especially marked.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 6th July 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Shoppers ‘ripped off’ by MasterCard stand to gain £400 compensation in record class action – Daily Telegraph

‘Shoppers have been ripped off by as much as £400 each due to unfair chip and pin charges in shops, lawyers preparing a historic class action case against MasterCard have claimed.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 6th July 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk