LSB attacks “arbitrary nature” of separate business rule – Legal Futures

‘The Legal Services Board (LSB) has attacked the “arbitrary nature” of the separate business rule used by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), and said the list of what is permitted and what is not is “confusing”.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 10th October 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Payday lenders should wipe out loans in wake of Wonga ruling, experts say – The Guardian

Posted October 6th, 2014 in claims management, complaints, consumer protection, interest, loans, news by sally

‘Thousands of people who have taken out payday loans from firms other than Wonga should also have their interest and charges wiped out, say consumer and legal experts.’

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The Guardian, 3rd October 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Competition watchdog bans deals between motor insurance and price comparison websites – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 29th, 2014 in competition, consumer protection, electronic commerce, insurance, internet, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘Exclusive pricing deals between car insurance providers and price comparison websites (PCWs) will be banned, the UK’s competition watchdog has confirmed, as part of its plans to increase competition and reduce the cost of insurance premiums for drivers.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 26th September 2014

Source: www.out-law.com

‘Frankly awful’: energy regulator’s damning verdict on suppliers’ customer service – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 26th, 2014 in complaints, consumer protection, energy, news by tracey

‘The Big Six energy suppliers have been ordered to improve “frankly awful” customer service after regulator Ofgem found more than half of customers were unhappy with how complaints were handled.’

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Daily Telegraph, 26th September 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Don’t be misleading or aggressive to your customers – that’s obvious, isn’t it? – Technology Law Update

Posted September 23rd, 2014 in complaints, consumer protection, news, regulations by sally

‘From 1 October 2014 consumers will have new rights to complain that they have been subjected to misleading or aggressive sales practices or demands for payment, thanks to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading (Amendment) Regulations 2014.’

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Technology Law Update, 23rd September 2014

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

Gambling law reforms to have effect from 1 October but prior High Court ruling expected on legal challenge – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 19th, 2014 in consumer protection, gambling, Gibraltar, licensing, news by tracey

‘A new regulatory and licensing regime for online and other remote gambling activity in Great Britain is set to come into effect from the beginning of next month after the UK parliament passed an order specifying 1 October as the date of commencement for the new regime.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 18th September 2014

Source: www.out-law.com

‘Pyramid scheme’ operation sees six women convicted – BBC News

Posted September 18th, 2014 in consumer protection, fraud, news, reporting restrictions, women by tracey

‘Six women have been convicted of operating a “pyramid” scheme in which thousands of investors lost money.’

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BBC News, 18th September 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

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

Posted September 18th, 2014 in appeals, consumer protection, contracts, law reports, Supreme Court by tracey

Swift (trading as A Swift Move) v Robertson: [2014] UKSC 50; [2014] WLR (D) 396

‘A failure by a trader to give written notice of the right to cancel a contract for the supply of goods or services made during a visit to a consumer’s home did not deprive the consumer of his right to cancel the contract pursuant to regulation 7(1) of the Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer’s Home or Place of Work etc Regulations 2008.’

WLR Daily, 9th September 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

ICO needs to rethink how to tackle mobile apps privacy failings, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK’s data protection authority needs to rethink its strategy for combatting failings in mobile apps privacy, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th September 2014

Source: www.out-law.com

We need more independence, BSB director says – Legalfutures

Posted September 12th, 2014 in barristers, consumer protection, legal representation, legal services, news by tracey

‘Dr Vanessa Davies, director of the Bar Standards Board (BSB), has made it clear that the regulator will push for more independence in the future.’

Full story

Legalfutures, 12th September 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Government agrees to set up Food Crime Unit following Elliott Review – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 8th, 2014 in consumer protection, food, fraud, health & safety, news, quality assurance by sally

‘A new Food Crime Unit is to be set up after the Government accepted all of the recommendations of the Elliott report on food integrity and assurance of food supply networks.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th September 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

British Standards enter the electronic age with new digital Kitemarks – The Independent

Posted August 27th, 2014 in banking, consumer protection, data protection, internet, news by sally

‘For almost a century it has appeared with reassuring mundanity on everything from manhole covers and condoms to fire extinguishers and motorcycle helmets, comforting the consumer that the product they are about to use is safe.’

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The Independent, 27th August 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

EDF to pay £3m in compensation after Ofgem inquiry – The Guardian

Posted August 22nd, 2014 in compensation, complaints, consumer protection, inquiries, news, utilities by tracey

‘EDF Energy is to pay out £3m to benefit “vulnerable customers” after an investigation by the energy industry watchdog Ofgem found that the company had breached complaint handling rules.’

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The Guardian, 22nd August 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legislation passed to ban PI inducements – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The government has introduced legislation to clamp down on personal injury inducements from lawyers offering clients money or gifts such as iPads in exchange for pursuing claims.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 25th July 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Solicitor suspended over boiler-room scam – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A solicitor involved in a boiler-room scam to push financial products to clients has been suspended from practice for 18 months.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 17th July 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Copycat government websites targeted in crackdown on hoaxers – The Independent

Posted July 7th, 2014 in complaints, consumer protection, fees, fraud, internet, news, passports by sally

‘A crackdown on hoaxers who trick people out of money via copycat government websites has been launched as the Coalition takes action following thousands of complaints over the practice.’

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The Independent, 7th July 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Rolf Harris jailed for five years nine months for indecently assaulting girls – The Guardian

‘The judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, sentenced the 84-year-old entertainer to a total of five years and nine months in prison on 12 counts of indecent assault. Harris will serve half the total jail sentence with some of the individual sentences to be served consecutively and others concurrently.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 – 4 New Square

Posted June 26th, 2014 in consumer protection, contracts, news, regulations, solicitors by sally

‘With over a decade of fairly fundamental regulatory challenges brought about by the Access to
Justice Act 1999, s.58 Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (Conditional Fee legislation) and more
recently LASPO (Jackson and DBAs), not to mention the overhaul of the Solicitors Code of Conduct to
its present guise of the Handbook in October 2011, one would be forgiven for thinking that the
solicitors profession is already sufficiently regulated without yet more intricate legislation. However,
it seems not. It is now necessary for the profession to get to grips with this latest round of
regulation bestowed upon the profession by Brussels.’

Full story (PDF)

4 New Square, 11th June 2014

Source: www.4newsquare.com

Solicitors Regulation Authority names first non-lawyer chair – Legal Futures

‘Enid Rowlands, an existing member of the board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), has been named as its first non-lawyer chair.’

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Legal Futures, 24th June 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Neuberger backs single regulator but criticises LSB for adding “cost and confusion” – Legal Futures

Posted June 25th, 2014 in consumer protection, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

‘The president of the Supreme Court, Lord Neuberger, has backed calls for single legal regulator, while accusing the Legal Services Board (LSB) of adding to cost and confusion.’

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Legal Futures, 25th June 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk