Ofcom to ban inflation-linked mid-contract price rises on phones, pay-TV and broadband – The Guardian

Posted July 19th, 2024 in complaints, consumer protection, news, ombudsmen, telecommunications by michael

‘Phone companies, broadband providers and subscription TV services will be banned from imposing inflation-linked price increases in the middle of contracts from next year, the telecoms regulator has confirmed.’

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The Guardian, 19th July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Parking fines are changing – here’s everything UK drivers need to know- The Independent

Posted June 27th, 2024 in complaints, consumer protection, fines, news, parking, sanctions by sally

‘Parking authorities in the UK have published new car parking rules today that will affect all drivers in the country.’

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The Independent, 27th June 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New appeal decision on Consumer Rights Act 2015 – David Lascelles – Littleton Chambers

‘In Black Horse Limited v Andrew Curtis (Bristol CC, 21 February 2024), HHJ Railton heard an appeal in relation to a novel point under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (the Act).’

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Littleton Chambers, 23rd May 2024

Source: littletonchambers.com

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

2024 c. 22 – Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024

2024 c. 21 – Victims and Prisoners Act 2024

2024 c. 19 – British Nationality (Irish Citizens) Act 2024

2024 c. 18 – Building Societies Act 1986 (Amendment) Act 2024

2024 c. 13 – Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Ryanair and EasyJet among airlines fined £128m for ‘abusive practices’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 31st, 2024 in airlines, consumer protection, fines, news by michael

‘Budget airlines including Ryanair and EasyJet have been fined a total of €150 million (£128 million) by Spain’s government for “abusive practices” including charging passengers for carry-on baggage.’

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Daily Telegraph, 31st May 2024

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

UK’s landmark DMCC Bill becomes law – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 29th, 2024 in bills, codes of practice, company law, competition, consumer protection, news by tracey

‘The highly anticipated Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Bill was passed by the UK Parliament on 23 May, marking the most important changes to UK competition law and consumer law in years.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 28th May 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

What laws can the Conservative government pass before the general election? – The Independent

‘The Conservatives and Labour have held talks to work out what outstanding legislation can be rushed through parliament to become law before the Commons closes for the general election.’

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The Independent, 23rd May 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ticket touts who ‘fleeced’ Ed Sheeran and Lady Gaga fans jailed – The Guardian

Posted May 20th, 2024 in consumer protection, fraud, imprisonment, news, sentencing by tracey

‘Ticket touts who conspired to “fleece” fans of artists including Ed Sheeran, Liam Gallagher and Lady Gaga have been jailed for operating a “fraudulent trading” scheme worth more than £6.5m.’

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The Guardian, 17th May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

eBay vendor jailed over lucrative skin bleaching cream scam as ministers urged to clamp down – The Independent

‘Campaigners are calling for tighter restrictions on the sale of toxic skin-lightening products as an eBay seller has been jailed for selling over 20,000 bottles of the illegal goods.’

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The Independent, 6th May 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

All or Nothing – Cambridge Law Journal

Posted May 2nd, 2024 in barristers, consumer protection, fees, news, unfair contract terms by sally

‘Glaser v Atay [2023] EWHC 2539 (KB) is a significant decision in two respects. First, it is a vanishingly rare example of a superior court striking down a contractual term as unfair under Part 2 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA). Second, the case contains interesting – and ultimately problematic – discussion of the effect of a term being unfair, an issue seldom explored in previous cases.’

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Cambridge Law Journal, 3rd April 2024

Source: www.cambridge.org

Greenwashing enforcement is not going away – Kingsley Napley Criminal Law Blog

‘For many years, companies have been selling or promoting products under claims that they have high ethical, social and governance (ESG) and/or sustainability credentials. In many cases, these claims are accurate and can help in the ongoing efforts to create a more sustainable society. In other cases, however, ESG claims can be overstated or even false – this is greenwashing.’

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Kingsley Napley Criminal Law Blog, 16th April 2024

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

UK watchdogs say they will take action against ‘threatening’ debt collectors – The Guardian

Posted March 19th, 2024 in consumer protection, debts, mental health, news by tracey

‘UK regulators are warning they will take “robust action” against firms that are putting consumers’ mental health at risk by using threatening tones and inundating already-vulnerable borrowers with letters, calls and emails, about their debts.’

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The Guardian, 18th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

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