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

BSB chief: Many practices at the Bar have “outlived their usefulness” – Legal Futures

‘There are many working practices at the Bar “which may have outlived their usefulness and no longer work in the interests of consumers”, the director general of the Bar Standards Board (BSB) said yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 4th July 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lawyers face beefed-up rules on handling complaints – Legal Futures

‘Changes to statutory requirements on how lawyers handle complaints will move closer this week amid concern that consumers are being let down at the moment.’

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Legal Futures, 5th June 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill: UK tech sector competition rules – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 1st, 2023 in bills, competition, consumer protection, electronic commerce, markets, news by sally

‘Large technology companies will face added regulatory and compliance issues in the UK once new legislation aimed at promoting competition in digital markets is enacted and implemented.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 30th May 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Enhancing consumer rights – the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill – Mills & Reeve

Posted May 31st, 2023 in bills, competition, consumer protection, dispute resolution, news by sally

‘This briefing is part of a series that is taking a closer look at the government’s draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (“the Bill”) which was introduced into Parliament on 25 April 2023. This is an important and far-reaching Bill which will see wide ranging reforms to competition and consumer protection laws.’

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Mills & Reeve, 30th May 2023

Source: www.mills-reeve.com

Research Briefing: Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill 2022-23: Consumer provisions – House of Commons Library

Posted May 19th, 2023 in bills, competition, consumer protection, news, parliament by tracey

‘This briefing considers the consumer provisions of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill [Bill 294, 2022-23]. Second reading of the Bill in the House of Commons is scheduled for 17 May 2023.’

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House of Commons Library , 17th May 2023

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Ofgem orders three energy firms to pay £8m compensation over late bills – The Guardian

Posted May 18th, 2023 in compensation, consumer protection, delay, energy, fines, news by sally

‘Three energy suppliers have been made to pay compensation totalling £8m for failing to supply a final bill on time to more than 100,000 households that had switched provider.’

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The Guardian, 17th May 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Regulating Big Tech in the UK – Competition Bulletin

‘Following hot(ish) on the heels of the EU’s Digital Markets Act, the UK’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (“the Bill”) was published on 25 April 2023. It seeks to do three things: (1) to establish a new ex-ante regulatory regime for digital markets, conferring powers on the CMA, via its Digital Markets Unit, to impose conduct requirements and make “pro-competitive interventions” (“PCIs”) in relation to designated firms, and to impose hefty penalties for failure to comply; (2) to reform the existing competition law system, notably relating to merger controls, market inquiries and enforcement; and (3) to enhance consumer rights and enforcement. This post focusses on the first of these.’

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Competition Bulletin, 17th May 2023

Source: competitionbulletin.com

Adverts claiming products are carbon neutral by using offsetting face UK ban – The Guardian

Posted May 16th, 2023 in advertising, climate change, consumer protection, news, standards by sally

‘Adverts that claim products are carbon neutral using offsets are to be banned by the UK’s advertising watchdog unless companies can prove they really work, the Guardian can reveal, as Gucci becomes the latest company to struggle with a high-profile environmental commitment based on offsetting.’

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The Guardian, 15th May 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

A ‘watershed moment’ for the digital sector – the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill – Mills & Reeve

Posted May 11th, 2023 in bills, competition, consumer protection, electronic commerce, news by sally

‘This briefing is part of a series that will take a closer look at the government’s draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (the “Bill”) which was introduced into Parliament on 25 April 2023. This is an important and far-reaching Bill which will see wide ranging reforms to competition and consumer protection laws.’

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Mills & Reeve, 10th May 2023

Source: www.mills-reeve.com

New blueprint to protect public from scammers – Home Office

‘Government launches new strategy to cut fraud, pursue fraudsters and empower the public.’

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Home Office, 3rd May 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

CMA launches initial review of artificial intelligence models – Competition and Markets Authority

Posted May 4th, 2023 in artificial intelligence, competition, consumer protection, news by tracey

‘The CMA is opening an initial review of competition and consumer protection considerations in the development and use of AI foundation models.’

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Competition and Markets Authority, 4th May 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

UK government publishes Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 26th, 2023 in bills, competition, consumer protection, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The UK government has published its long-awaited Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Bill, designed to boost competition and crack down on unfair business practices.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 25th April 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com