Durkin (Appellant) v DSG Retail Ltd and another (Respondents) (Scotland) – Supreme Court
Durkin (Appellant) v DSG Retail Ltd and another (Respondents) (Scotland) [2014] UKSC 21 (YouTube)
Supreme Court, 26th March 2014
Category: consumer protection
Duped by the ‘blood analyst’ who says he can cure cancer – Daily Telegraph
‘Controversial Harley Street specialist is found guilty of claiming he can cure cancer in landmark case brought by trading standards.’
Daily Telegraph, 30th March 2014
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Ofgem asks competition watchdog to investigate big six energy suppliers – The Guardian
‘The energy regulator has asked the competition watchdog to investigate Britain’s energy companies in an effort to restore trust in the industry after public uproar over rising fuel bills.’
The Guardian, 27th March 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
OFT: ‘significant gaps’ in university prospectuses – Daily Telegraph
‘The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) warns that universities are failing to supply students with enough information before they apply, but finds no evidence of ‘fee fixing’ between institutions.’
Daily Telegraph, 14th March 2014
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Quarter of payday lenders may quit under tougher rules – BBC News
‘One quarter of payday lenders may pull out of the market under pressure from new regulations. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is to investigate the way they treat borrowers struggling to repay loans. It has said the review will be one of its first actions when it takes over regulation of the consumer credit sector on 1 April.’
BBC News. 12th March 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Most train users unaware of rights, says rail regulator – BBC News
‘Most train passengers are unaware of their rights to compensation after cancellations or delays, the rail regulator has said.’
BBC News, 21st February 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Insolvency practitioners to be prevented from charging by the hour under new proposals – OUT-LAW.com
‘Administrators and other insolvency practitioners (IPs) could be prevented from charging an hourly rate for their services and could instead have to base their fees on a percentage of property dealt with under plans put forward for consultation by the Government.’
OUT-LAW.com, 19th February 2014
Source: www.out-law.com
OFT warns universities about sanctions on students in debt – The Guardian
‘The Office of Fair Trading has written to more than 170 universities and other higher education groups warning that the widespread practice of stopping students graduating or continuing with their course if they owe money over issues such as late library books or childcare services could breach consumer laws.’
The Guardian, 18th February 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Unfair advantage” under the Trade Marks Directive – Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers
‘Readers over the age of 24 do not fall into Jack Wills’ core target market, and may therefore be unfamiliar with the clothing brand’s “Mr Wills” pheasant logo. On the other hand, those readers who are Jack Wills devotees may want to check when you get home that you have not got confused and accidentally purchased, for about the same price, a House of Fraser product adorned with this equally delightful but nonetheless different bird. If you did get confused, it is perfectly understandable. After all, they’re both silhouettes of birds “equipped with accessories associated with an English gentleman”, as Mr Justice Arnold explained last week in Jack Wills Ltd v House of Fraser (Stores) Ltd [2014] EWHC 110 (Ch).’
Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 4th February 2014
Source: www.competitionbulletin.com
Two-month deadline over in-app charges – BBC News
‘Creators of mobile apps that promote in-app purchases are being given two months to comply with Office of Fair Trading guidelines’
BBC News, 30th January 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
16-year laptop credit agreement fight reaches supreme court – The Guardian
‘A man embroiled in a mammoth 16-year legal battle over a laptop found himself in the “absurd and horrid” position of having to keep paying for an item he had already returned to the shop, the supreme court has been told.’
The Guardian, 28th January 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Ofgem accuses Npower of ‘misleading’ report – BBC News
‘A report by power supplier Npower, claiming bills will rise due to higher energy distribution costs, has been dismissed by regulator Ofgem as “misleading”.’
BBC News, 22nd January 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Patients will be identifiable when firms are given access to confidential NHS data, experts warn – The Independent
‘Privacy experts have warned that commercial firms will be able to identify people when they are given access to confidential NHS patient data.’
The Independent, 20th January 2014
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Payday lenders’ default fees could break the law – The Independent
‘Many payday lenders could be breaking the law by charging excessive default fees to borrowers who miss repayments, according to Which? An investigation by the consumer group revealed that 10 of 17 leading payday lenders have default fees of £20 or more, and four charged £25 and above, with Wonga topping the table at £30.’
The Independent, 13th January 2014
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Illegal tobacco seller Roger Gerrey sold cigarettes to children – BBC News
‘A man who turned his Devon home into a shop selling illegal cigarettes to school children has been spared a jail sentence.’
BBC News, 9th January 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Copyright Licensing BBC v EOS – NIPC Law
‘As everyone knows, copyright restricts the acts listed in s.16 (1) of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (“CDPA”) in relation to a work in which copyright subsists (“a copyright work”). Those acts include copying, issuing copies, renting, lending or communicating the work to the public etc. Anyone who does any of those acts without the owner’s licence infringes that copyright. He or she may be sued or in an extreme case prosecuted.’
NIPC Law, 17th December 2013
Source: www.nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk
Car insurance too high, says Competition Commission – The Guardian
‘Car insurance premiums are too high and should be reduced through far-reaching reforms, the competition watchdog has said.’
The Guardian, 17th December 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Claims management complaints service to be toughened – Ministry of Justice
‘Consumers who receive a bad service from claims management companies could receive compensation following new law changes announced by Justice Minister Shailesh Vara.’
Ministry of Justice, 10th December 2013
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Borough claims first after salon owner pleads guilty over sunbed test purchase – Local Government Lawyer
‘A London borough is thought to have brought the first successful prosecution of a salon owner under the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 following the failure of a test purchase.’
Local Government Lawyer, 9th December 2013
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Probe into price comparison website deals – OUT-LAW.com
‘Price comparison websites and insurers in the motor, travel and home insurance markets are the subject of a regulatory probe by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) amidst concerns that consumers are being misled when buying cover through those sites.26 Nov 2013.’
OUT-LAW.com, 26th November 2013
Source: www.out-law.com
