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

New rules ban subscription traps and fake reviews – BBC News

Posted April 25th, 2023 in bills, consumer protection, electronic commerce, news by sally

‘Buying, selling or hosting fake reviews will become illegal as part of changes planned in new laws.’

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BBC News, 25th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Cloud customers should consider options following Ofcom report – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 25th, 2023 in competition, consumer protection, internet, news, reports by sally

‘The 220-page report published in accordance with Ofcom’s market study powers under the Enterprise Act 2002 highlighted practices which the regulator considers potentially hinder and restrict competition; in particular a customer’s ability to switch provider and adopt a multi-cloud architecture. It is proposing to refer the market for an in-depth investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).’

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OUT-LAW.com, 24th April 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Crucial hearing in Mastercard litigation begins – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Competition Appeal Tribunal is set to hear arguments today on a complex EU law issue worth billions of pounds in proceedings against credit card providers, Mastercard and Visa.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th April 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK advertising watchdog to probe ‘free trial’ subscription traps – OUT-LAW.com

‘Businesses using “free trial” ads to engage consumers for their subscription services have been urged to review their online marketing content, as the UK’s Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) has set out its plan to target non-compliant trials and other promotional subscription offers in upcoming enforcement action.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 13th April 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

William Hill let customer bet £23,000 in 20 minutes – BBC News

Posted March 28th, 2023 in consumer protection, fines, gambling, money laundering, news, penalties by sally

‘Three gambling firms owned by William Hill are to pay penalties of £19.2m for failing to protect consumers and weak anti-money laundering controls.’

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BBC News, 28th March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill could have major impact on subscription providers – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 13th, 2023 in bills, consultations, consumer protection, government departments, news by tracey

‘Businesses that provide subscription services to customers in the UK should consider the implications of upcoming reforms and prepare for an increased level of regulatory scrutiny.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 13th March 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Updated consumer law guidance for higher education providers welcomed – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 21st, 2023 in competition, consumer protection, education, news, universities by tracey

‘Updated guidance for higher education (HE) providers announced by the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will help the sector ensure that their practices are compliant, according to one legal expert.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 20th February 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

FCA set to regulate ‘buy now pay later’ payment products in UK – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK government has published draft legislation which would bring the fast-growing “buy now pay later” (BNPL) industry within Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulation and bolster protection for consumers.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 17th February 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Mobile and broadband prices: UK watchdog reviews inflation-busting rises – The Guardian

Posted February 10th, 2023 in consumer protection, inflation, news, ombudsmen, telecommunications by sally

‘The UK telecoms regulator has launched an investigation into the industry-wide practice of hitting broadband and mobile customers with inflation-busting price rises of up to 17% and could bring in tougher protections against hefty mid-contract increases.’

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The Guardian, 9th February 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Energy suppliers to be investigated over Britons forced on to prepayment meters – The Guardian

Posted January 23rd, 2023 in consumer protection, energy, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘Energy companies are to be investigated by the regulator Ofgem after the number of households struggling with their bills being forced on to prepayment meters has increased sharply. Ofgem could consider taking legal action if it determines that the rise in the number of homes being forced on to prepayment meters is proven to show companies are not taking proper due care of vulnerable households.’

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The Guardian, 23rd January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

TonyBet fined £442,750 and warned on failure to have fair and transparent terms – The Independent

Posted January 18th, 2023 in consumer protection, fines, gambling, money laundering, news, unfair contract terms by tracey

‘TonyBet has been fined 442,750 and warned about its failure to have fair and transparent terms, and for failing to follow social responsibility and anti-money laundering rules, the Gambling Commission said.’

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The Independent, 18th January 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Rogue landlord fined £12,000 for exploiting Bristol tenants – BBC News

Posted January 13th, 2023 in consumer protection, deposits, fines, housing, landlord & tenant, news by tracey

‘A rogue landlord who created fake identities and letting agents to keep deposit money in an “elaborate web of misinformation” has been fined.’

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BBC News, 13th January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Calls for UK ban on pre-payment meter installations made under court warrants – The Guardian

Posted November 30th, 2022 in consumer protection, debts, energy, news by sally

‘Campaigners have called for an immediate ban on pre-payment meter (PPM) installations made under court warrants because of fears that energy suppliers are using them to disconnect the poorest, most indebted customers “by the back door”.’

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The Guardian, 29th November 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Advertising regulator signals crackdown on ‘hot air’ environmental claims – The Independent

‘The advertising regulator is to crack down on “hot air” environmental claims amid consumer confusion around terms such as “carbon neutral” and “net zero”.’

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The Independent, 20th October 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Betfred fined almost £2.9m over gambling safety check failings – The Guardian

Posted September 28th, 2022 in consumer protection, fines, gambling, money laundering, news by michael

‘The bookmaker Betfred has been fined nearly £2.9m for failings in its social responsibility and money-laundering controls, after accepting tens of thousands of pounds from gamblers without performing adequate safety checks.’

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The Guardian, 28th September 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

BSB to test if review and comparison websites work for barristers – Legal Futures

Posted September 23rd, 2022 in barristers, codes of practice, consumer protection, internet, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘Four lawyer review and comparison websites have agreed to join a Bar Standards Board (BSB) pilot on whether they can work for barristers and their consumers.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd September 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Research Briefing: Regulation of estate agents – House of Commons Library

Posted September 12th, 2022 in consultations, consumer protection, estate agents, housing, news, parliament by tracey

‘This briefing paper provides an outline of the current regulation of estate agents. It also looks at past market studies and consultations and considers in detail recent government proposals to tighten regulation.’

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House of Commons Library , 5th September 2022

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Sony could face £5bn in legal claims over PlayStation game charges – The Guardian

Posted August 26th, 2022 in appeals, competition, consumer protection, damages, news, video games by tracey

‘Sony has been overcharging PlayStation gamers for six years, a new legal claim alleges, and could be forced to pay almost £5bn in damages if the claim succeeds.’

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The Guardian, 22nd August 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Case Comment: Hastings v Finsbury Orthopaedics Ltd and Anor [2022] UKSC 19 – UKSC Blog

‘In this post, Sophie Malley, a trainee solicitor at CMS, comments on the decision in Hastings v Finsbury Orthopaedics Ltd and Anor [2022] UKSC 19, the first product liability case to reach the UK Supreme Court.’

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UKSC Blog, 1st August 2022

Source: ukscblog.com