Ground rent not legally or commercially necessary, says UK watchdog – The Guardian

Posted March 14th, 2024 in competition, consumer protection, leases, news, rent by sally

‘Britain’s competition watchdog has said ground rent is “neither legally nor commercially necessary” and that government may need to step in to protect consumers from soaring costs.’

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The Guardian, 13th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Baby formula milk investigated over high prices – BBC News

Posted February 20th, 2024 in children, competition, consumer protection, food, news by tracey

‘The UK infant formula market is under investigation after regulators said parents could be saving £500 in their baby’s first year.’

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BBC News, 20th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Facebook £3bn legal action given go-ahead in London – BBC News

‘A judge has given the go-ahead to a mass legal action against Facebook owner Meta, potentially worth £3bn.’

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BBC News, 15th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK High Court dismisses Thatchers cider ‘copycat’ claims – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 6th, 2024 in consumer protection, food, news, trade marks by tracey

‘A recent decision by the High Court in London may diminish the confidence of firms looking to invoke registered trade mark rights in cases of lookalike products, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 5th February 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Future of compensation fund in question as SRA begins consumer review – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The vexed question of how to protect the public without unfairly burdening regulated solicitors is at the centre of a review of consumer protection announced by the Solicitors Regulation Authority today.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 5th February 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Fake reviews and hidden online charges to be banned under new rules – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2024 in bills, competition, consumer protection, internet, labelling, news by sally

‘Fake reviews and unavoidable hidden online charges – which cost consumers £2.2bn a year – are to be banned under new laws to force businesses to be more clear with shoppers.’

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The Guardian, 24th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government offers hope of full PACCAR solution in the future – Legal Futures

‘The government has acknowledged concerns that its legislative proposal to address the Supreme Court’s PACCAR ruling does not go far enough – but further change is not imminent.’

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Legal Futures, 15th December 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

BSB proposes amendments to widen its powers to protect the public – Bar Standards Board

‘In June 2023, the BSB issued a consultation document seeking views on proposed changes which would widen the powers of the BSB and of Disciplinary Tribunals to protect the public by restricting or suspending a barrister’s ability to practise on an interim basis.’

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Bar Standards Board, 14th December 2023

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

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