Dark patterns – Mills & Reeve

‘The ASA has banned Nike and Sky adverts, on the basis they use so called “dark patterns”. Dark patterns are a range of techniques which cross the line from legitimate advertising techniques to ones which unlawfully nudge consumers into making choices not in their best interests. These decisions come as the ASA joins the CMA in undertaking wider proactive investigations into online choice architecture that amount to unlawful dark patterns.’

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Mills & Reeve, 27th September 2024

Source: www.mills-reeve.com

Fashion brands face further greenwashing scrutiny – Kingsley Napley Criminal Law Blog

Posted September 26th, 2024 in advertising, competition, consumer protection, environmental protection, news by sally

‘Greenwashing continues to be a significant focus for the UK’s competition regulator as its scrutiny of the fashion sector continues.’

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Kingsley Napley Criminal Law Blog, 25th September 2024

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

DMCC Act overhauls UK consumer law enforcement and expands consumer rights – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 17th, 2024 in competition, consumer protection, enforcement, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘Consumer protection laws, and particularly the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) enforcement powers, have been substantially strengthened by landmark new UK legislation which elevates directly enforceable consumer protection rules to the same status as competition law.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 16th September 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Is cash king? The fundamental shift in retail banking, the FCA’s concerns and approach – Mountford Chambers

‘Fatima Jama explores the FCA’s new regulatory regime requiring banks and building societies designated by the Government to assess and fill gaps, or potential gaps, in cash access provision that significantly impact consumers and businesses.’ 

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Mountford Chambers, 5th August 2024

Source: www.mountfordchambers.com

Watchdog makes big cut to fraud compensation plans – BBC News

Posted September 5th, 2024 in banking, codes of practice, compensation, consumer protection, fraud, news by sally

‘The official payment watchdog has considerably scaled back proposed rules designed to force banks and payment companies to refund fraud victims.’

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BBC News, 4th September 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK insurance firms must ensure fair value of products following FCA review – OUT-LAW.com

‘Manufacturers and distributors of non-investment insurance products may need to re-consider the efficacy of their product value assessments and ensure they are fully aware of their responsibilities to consumers following the findings of a UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) thematic review.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 2nd September 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

City watchdog raises concerns over £4bn life insurance market – The Guardian

‘The UK financial watchdog is to investigate whether insurance companies are ripping off “vulnerable” customers who take out policies designed to financially protect them and their families in case of serious illness or death.’

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The Guardian, 28th August 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Compensation for water customers in England and Wales to double – The Guardian

Posted August 12th, 2024 in compensation, consumer protection, news, water companies by tracey

‘Consumers in England and Wales will see the amount of compensation they receive for poor customer service from their water supplier at least double under new government measures to crack down on failing utilities companies.’

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The Guardian, 12th August 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Solicitors hit out at FCA over car finance mis-selling delay – Legal Futures

‘Solicitors representing clients with claims for mis-sold car finance have expressed frustration at the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) delay in completing its work on the issue.’

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Legal Futures, 1st August 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ofcom to ban inflation-linked mid-contract price rises on phones, pay-TV and broadband – The Guardian

Posted July 19th, 2024 in complaints, consumer protection, news, ombudsmen, telecommunications by michael

‘Phone companies, broadband providers and subscription TV services will be banned from imposing inflation-linked price increases in the middle of contracts from next year, the telecoms regulator has confirmed.’

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The Guardian, 19th July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Parking fines are changing – here’s everything UK drivers need to know- The Independent

Posted June 27th, 2024 in complaints, consumer protection, fines, news, parking, sanctions by sally

‘Parking authorities in the UK have published new car parking rules today that will affect all drivers in the country.’

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The Independent, 27th June 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New appeal decision on Consumer Rights Act 2015 – David Lascelles – Littleton Chambers

‘In Black Horse Limited v Andrew Curtis (Bristol CC, 21 February 2024), HHJ Railton heard an appeal in relation to a novel point under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (the Act).’

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Littleton Chambers, 23rd May 2024

Source: littletonchambers.com

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

2024 c. 22 – Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024

2024 c. 21 – Victims and Prisoners Act 2024

2024 c. 19 – British Nationality (Irish Citizens) Act 2024

2024 c. 18 – Building Societies Act 1986 (Amendment) Act 2024

2024 c. 13 – Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Ryanair and EasyJet among airlines fined £128m for ‘abusive practices’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 31st, 2024 in airlines, consumer protection, fines, news by michael

‘Budget airlines including Ryanair and EasyJet have been fined a total of €150 million (£128 million) by Spain’s government for “abusive practices” including charging passengers for carry-on baggage.’

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Daily Telegraph, 31st May 2024

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

UK’s landmark DMCC Bill becomes law – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 29th, 2024 in bills, codes of practice, company law, competition, consumer protection, news by tracey

‘The highly anticipated Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Bill was passed by the UK Parliament on 23 May, marking the most important changes to UK competition law and consumer law in years.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 28th May 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

What laws can the Conservative government pass before the general election? – The Independent

‘The Conservatives and Labour have held talks to work out what outstanding legislation can be rushed through parliament to become law before the Commons closes for the general election.’

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The Independent, 23rd May 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ticket touts who ‘fleeced’ Ed Sheeran and Lady Gaga fans jailed – The Guardian

Posted May 20th, 2024 in consumer protection, fraud, imprisonment, news, sentencing by tracey

‘Ticket touts who conspired to “fleece” fans of artists including Ed Sheeran, Liam Gallagher and Lady Gaga have been jailed for operating a “fraudulent trading” scheme worth more than £6.5m.’

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The Guardian, 17th May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

eBay vendor jailed over lucrative skin bleaching cream scam as ministers urged to clamp down – The Independent

‘Campaigners are calling for tighter restrictions on the sale of toxic skin-lightening products as an eBay seller has been jailed for selling over 20,000 bottles of the illegal goods.’

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The Independent, 6th May 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

All or Nothing – Cambridge Law Journal

Posted May 2nd, 2024 in barristers, consumer protection, fees, news, unfair contract terms by sally

‘Glaser v Atay [2023] EWHC 2539 (KB) is a significant decision in two respects. First, it is a vanishingly rare example of a superior court striking down a contractual term as unfair under Part 2 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA). Second, the case contains interesting – and ultimately problematic – discussion of the effect of a term being unfair, an issue seldom explored in previous cases.’

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Cambridge Law Journal, 3rd April 2024

Source: www.cambridge.org

Greenwashing enforcement is not going away – Kingsley Napley Criminal Law Blog

‘For many years, companies have been selling or promoting products under claims that they have high ethical, social and governance (ESG) and/or sustainability credentials. In many cases, these claims are accurate and can help in the ongoing efforts to create a more sustainable society. In other cases, however, ESG claims can be overstated or even false – this is greenwashing.’

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Kingsley Napley Criminal Law Blog, 16th April 2024

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk