Letting agents: new laws needed to protect tenants and landlords, says OFT – The Guardian

Posted February 15th, 2013 in consumer protection, landlord & tenant, news by sally

“The government should consider new laws for lettings agents to improve the rights of tenants and landlords, the Office of Fair Trading has said.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Horsemeat scandal: ‘Tougher testing’ by retailers ordered – BBC News

Posted February 11th, 2013 in consumer protection, food hygiene, fraudulent trading, news by sally

“Retailers have agreed to carry out ‘more and tougher testing’ of beef products in the wake of widespread horsemeat contamination, the environment secretary says.”

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BBC News, 9th February 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Commission unveils plans for expanded cyber breach notification regime – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 11th, 2013 in computer crime, consumer protection, data protection, EC law, internet, news by sally

“A range of businesses across the financial services, energy and technology sectors are among those that would be subject to new cyber security and breach notification rules under new legislative plans outlined by the European Commission.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 8th February 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Extra measures to tackle PPI claim pests – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 8th, 2013 in claims management, consumer protection, insurance, news by sally

“A specialist team created to crackdown on bad practice in the Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) claims market has helped tackle more than 200 rogue firms and is being strengthened to monitor even more companies.”

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Ministry of Justice, 8th February 2013

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

FSA orders tests of processed beef after horsemeat is found in Findus lasagne – The Guardian

Posted February 8th, 2013 in consumer protection, food, news by sally

“The Food Standards Agency has ordered companies to test their processed beef products after analysis of lasagne made by Findus found up to 100% of the meat came from horses.”

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The Guardian, 8th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

OFT rules out petrol prices inquiry – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2013 in consumer protection, news, statistics, unfair commercial practices by sally

“Rising petrol prices will continue to be a headache for cash-strapped motorists after the consumer watchdog concluded there is no evidence of unfair marketing or trading between oil companies and retailers.”

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The Guardian, 30th January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Gift vouchers ~ Can consumer protection be tightened? – 11 Stone Buildings

Posted January 28th, 2013 in consumer protection, insolvency, news by sally

“The selling of gift vouchers by distressed retailers such as Comet, Jessops and HMV, in the run up to going into administration has been the subject of much adverse comment in the media in recent weeks. Consumers always seem to be pulling the short straw. Why is this and can anything be done to protect their position better?”

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11 Stone Buildings, January 2013

Source: www.11sb.com

Simplify complaints procedures, OFT tells profession – Law Society’s Gazette

“The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has urged the legal profession to simplify its complaints procedures, following the publication of research showing that only one in eight dissatisfied customers goes on to make a formal complaint.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 28th January 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Amazon Marketplace purchases not covered by Consumer Credit Act – The Guardian

“If you pay Amazon and it passes the money on to the retailer, a loophole could leave you without redress.”

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The Guardian, 19th January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Swift (trading as A Swift Move) v Robertson – WLR Daily

Posted January 18th, 2013 in consumer protection, contracts, deposits, law reports, ultra vires by tracey

Swift (trading as A Swift Move) v Robertson: [2012] EWCA Civ 1794;   [2013] WLR (D)  11

“Where a contract between a consumer and a trader for the supply of goods or services was made during a visit to the consumer’s home the Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer’s Home or Place of Work etc Regulations 2008 applied, irrespective of whether there had been earlier negotiations between the parties at the consumer’s home.”

WLR Daily, 15th January 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

 

OFT to investigate workplace pensions market – The Guardian

Posted January 17th, 2013 in competition, consumer protection, news, pensions by sally

“An investigation into whether millions of members of workplace pensions are getting good value for money has been launched by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).”

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The Guardian, 17th January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

OFT to act on unfair gym membership contracts – The Guardian

Posted January 14th, 2013 in consumer protection, inquiries, news, ombudsmen, unfair contract terms by tracey

“At the end of what is always the busiest month of the year for gyms, the OFT is expected to announce that it will outlaw contracts that last longer than 12 months or do not contain a get-out clause for members who, for example, lose their job or sustain an injury. The move follows a year-long investigation into a number of gym chains, believed to include LA Fitness, Fitness First and Bannatyne’s. The OFT is also understood to be looking at debt collectors that some reports say use aggressive practices in chasing money owed to gym groups.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

LSB responds to consultation by revising plans for regulation of special bodies – Legal Services Board

“Special bodies – including not-for profit agencies and community interest companies –
providing reserved legal activities will not become licensed under the Legal Services Act 2007
until at least April 2015, the LSB confirms today [5 December].”

Full story (PDF)

Legal Services Board, 5th December 2012

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

Government backs reform to regulatory appeals proposes – The Guardian

Posted December 7th, 2012 in appeals, budgets, competition, complaints, consumer protection, media, news by sally

“The ability of big companies to use armies of lawyers to prevent regulators from introducing consumer-friendly measures will be curbed after the chancellor’s autumn statement promised to make appeals quicker and easier.”

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The Guardian, 6th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

FCA’s temporary product ban powers “approval by another name”, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 5th, 2012 in banking, consumer protection, financial regulation, news by sally

“The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is consulting on a new power that will enable regulators to ban financial products without consultation in certain circumstances.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 5th December 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

‘Unfair’ supermarkets could face hefty fines under new watchdog – The Guardian

Posted December 5th, 2012 in competition, consumer protection, fines, news, unfair commercial practices by sally

“Large UK supermarkets which abuse their power in the marketplace and treat suppliers ‘unfairly’ could be fined by a new watchdog under changes announced by the Department for Business.”

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The Guardian, 4th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Supermarkets agree to prices and discounts code – BBC News

Posted November 30th, 2012 in advertising, consumer protection, news, unfair commercial practices by tracey

“Eight supermarkets have agreed to ensure that special offers and price promotions are fair. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has been investigating the way prices are displayed, advertised and promoted in stores.”

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BBC News, 30th November 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Points of review – The Lawyer

Posted November 28th, 2012 in consumer protection, legal education, legal profession, news, reports by sally

“The widely criticised Legal Education and Training Review is in its final stages. Opinion is divided on whether it will achieve its objectives.”

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The Lawyer, 26th November 2012

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Online behavioural advertising transparency and opt out requirements to be set out in UK advertising rules – OUT-LAW.com

“Behavioural advertising networks will be subject to UK advertising rules from February next year, the advertising regulator has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 22nd November 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Government threatens to legislate if voluntary consumer data access standards are not adhered to by mobile, energy and financial services firms – OUT-LAW.com

“Financial services, mobile telecoms and energy companies will be compelled by law to provide consumers with data they hold about their transactions or consumption in an ‘electronic, machine readable’ format, upon request, if they do not do so voluntarily, the Government has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 20th November 2012

Source: www.out-law.com