CAT “wrong” to identify ban on defendants contacting claimants directly – Legal Futures

Posted December 11th, 2023 in appeals, class actions, competition, consumer protection, news, tribunals by tracey

‘The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) was wrong to identify a rule that prevents defendants communicating directly with legally represented members of an opt-out class action, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 11th December 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK’s top mobile firms face £3.3bn class action lawsuit over ‘loyalty penalties’ – The Guardian

Posted December 8th, 2023 in class actions, compensation, consumer protection, news, telecommunications by michael

‘The UK’s biggest mobile phone companies face a £3.3bn class action lawsuit alleging that long-standing customers are being ripped off by “loyalty penalties”, under which the same services are offered to new customers at a better price to lure them from rivals.’

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The Guardian, 7th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Crunch time for cookie use, watchdog warns – BBC News

‘Some of the UK’s most visited websites could face fines unless they make it clearer that cookies are optional.’

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BBC News, 21st November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

AstraZeneca faces legal challenge over Covid vaccine – BBC News

Posted November 10th, 2023 in consumer protection, coronavirus, damages, news, personal injuries, vaccination by tracey

‘AstraZeneca is facing legal action over its Covid vaccine, by a man who suffered severe brain injury after having the jab in April 2021.’

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BBC News, 9th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK government to introduce new rules to restrict ‘de-banking’ – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK chancellor has announced new rules to restrict the practice of ‘de-banking’ amid reports that some banks may have closed customer accounts because of their political beliefs.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 25th October 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

The UK’s consumer product safety legal and regulatory regime – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 19th, 2023 in consumer protection, EC law, health & safety, news, regulations by sally

‘The UK’s consumer product liability and safety regime is broadly derived from EU legislation, which imposes obligations on each of the players in the supply chain from manufacturer through to distributor.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 18th October 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Olly Stephens: Murdered boy’s dad says new law a ‘game-changer’ – BBC News

Posted September 21st, 2023 in bereavement, bills, consumer protection, internet, murder, news by sally

‘The father of a 13-year-old murdered by two schoolboys has welcomed a new law to make social media firms more responsible for users’ safety.’

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BBC News, 21st September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

AI boom may not have positive outcome, warns UK competition watchdog – The Guardian

Posted September 19th, 2023 in artificial intelligence, competition, consumer protection, fraud, news by sally

‘People should not assume a positive outcome from the artificial intelligence boom, the UK’s competition watchdog has warned, citing risks including a proliferation of false information, fraud and fake reviews as well as high prices for using the technology.’

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The Guardian, 18th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Chair of the Bar calls for change to timing of Call in future-gazing speech – The Bar Council

Posted September 14th, 2023 in barristers, consumer protection, legal services, news, public interest, pupillage, speeches by tracey

‘Chair of the Bar Nick Vineall KC has called on the profession to call people to the Bar only when they have completed pupillage. The present system means that the title of barrister is conferred on people who are not entitled to practise as barristers, and he argues that this creates a real risk of confusion for clients and is not in the public interest.’

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The Bar Council, 13th September 2023

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Google faces multibillion-pound lawsuit from UK consumers – The Guardian

Posted September 7th, 2023 in advertising, class actions, competition, consumer protection, internet, news by sally

‘Google faces a new multibillion-pound lawsuit from UK consumers accusing the company of contributing to cost-of-living price rises.’

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The Guardian, 7th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

BSB chief: We cannot stop review websites covering barristers – Legal Futures

Posted August 25th, 2023 in barristers, consumer protection, internet, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has warned that it cannot stop the growing interest in featuring barristers on online review and comparison websites, even if the profession wants it to.’

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Legal Futures, 24th August 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 A New Front in Solicitor-Client Assessments? – Hailsham Chambers

Posted August 23rd, 2023 in chambers articles, consumer protection, costs, EC law, fees, news, solicitors by sally

‘Surprisingly, the latest development in solicitor-client costs disputes has not come from the domestic courts, but from the European Court of Justice (ECJ). It has the potential to open up a new line of attack in Solicitors Act detailed assessments if the courts decide to apply it.’

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Hailsham Chambers, 3rd July 2023

Source: www.hailshamchambers.com

Fine airlines if they fail in legal duty to customers, urges Which? – The Guardian

Posted August 21st, 2023 in airlines, compensation, consumer protection, enforcement, fines, news, ombudsmen, statistics by tracey

‘Airlines that break the law by not helping customers when flights are delayed or cancelled should be fined, consumer rights groups and online travel agents have said.’

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The Guardian, 21st August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

CMA investigates online divorce, will-writing and other legal services – Family Law

Posted August 8th, 2023 in consumer protection, divorce, legal services, news, probate, wills by tracey

‘The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is keen to hear about people’s experiences with firms offering these services, over concerns that not all are complying with consumer protection law.’

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Family Law, 7th August 2023

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Product safety laws to be changed to better protect online shoppers – The Guardian

‘The UK’s product safety regime is to be overhauled to provide better protection for the public and make it “fit for the digital age”, ministers have announced.’

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The Guardian, 2nd August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Consumer Duty: ‘most significant change’ to UK financial services regulation in a decade comes into force – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 1st, 2023 in complaints, consumer protection, financial regulation, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The Consumer Duty, which comes into force today, is the “most significant change to financial services regulation” in a decade, according to one legal expert.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 31st July 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Airline ordered to reopen claims after passenger complaints – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 31st, 2023 in airlines, complaints, consumer protection, enforcement, news by tracey

‘An airline has committed to reopening claims from passengers after the aviation regulator stepped in to force the issue. The UK Civil Aviation Authority said its enforcement action against Wizz Air followed “significant concerns over high volumes of complaints” about the airline not paying passengers what they are owed.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 28th July 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK retail financial services set for biggest overhaul in 20 years – The Guardian

‘The biggest regulatory shake-up of UK retail financial services for two decades will come into force on Monday in an effort to crack down on rip-offs and poor customer service.’

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The Guardian, 31st July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tougher rules will target illegal ads and fake influencer scams, says Government – The Independent

Posted July 25th, 2023 in advertising, consumer protection, electronic commerce, internet, news by sally

‘Tougher new rules are set to clamp down on illegal and age-restricted adverts and fake celebrity scams, the Government has said.’

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The Independent, 25th July 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Dip in proportion of consumers shopping around for legal services – Legal Futures

Posted July 11th, 2023 in competition, consumer protection, legal services, news, statistics by sally

‘The proportion of consumers who shop around for lawyers has fallen for the first time in 12 years, but the use of unbundling is on the rise, according to new figures.’

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Legal Futures, 11th July 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk