Lapland ‘con’ duo cleared on appeal – The Independent

Posted October 27th, 2011 in advertising, appeals, consumer protection, fraud, juries, news by sally

“Two brothers jailed after being accused of conning thousands of customers into visiting what they claimed was a Lapland-style theme park had their convictions overturned by appeal judges today.”

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The Independent, 26th October 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

TalkTalk reprimanded over silent calls – The Guardian

Posted October 14th, 2011 in consumer protection, fines, news, telecommunications by tracey

“Regulator Ofcom gives TalkTalk until mid-November to respond to allegations of ‘persistent’ silent calls, when it could levy a fine of up to £2m.”

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The Guardian, 14th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar Council Warns: European Sales Law is Double Whammy of Increased Costs and Less Certainty – The Bar Council

Posted October 12th, 2011 in consumer protection, contracts, EC law, news, sale of goods, small businesses by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has warned of the dangers of adopting a European Sales Law, the latest legislative proposal by the European Commission which would introduce a second contract law into the laws of all Member States.”

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The Bar Council, 11th October 2011

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Baroness Shackleton: legal watchdog warns lawyer fees market needs ‘urgent reform’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 3rd, 2011 in consumer protection, fees, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

“Exclusive: Lawyers are under pressure to adopt more ‘consumer friendly’ fee structures amid thousands of complaints from clients about inflated billing charges, the legal watchdog has warned. ”

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Daily Telegraph, 1st October 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Broadband advertising proposals ‘a green light to mislead customers’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 30th, 2011 in advertising, consumer protection, internet, news by tracey

“New proposals to regulate how broadband is advertised have been called ‘disappointing’ by Ofcom and ‘a green light to mislead’ by consumer group Which?.”

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Daily Telegraph, 30th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Regulator warns of secret app charges and proposes industry guidance – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 27th, 2011 in consultations, consumer protection, news, telecommunications by sally

“Some makers of mobile phone apps are secretly charging phone users for services they never asked for, premium rate phone regulator PhonepayPlus (PPP) has said. It has proposed guidance that it hopes would prevent consumers being harmed.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 27th September 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

BT advert contained claims that were not suitably qualified, advertising watchdog rules – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 26th, 2011 in advertising, consumer protection, internet, news by sally

“The UK’s advertising watchdog has ruled that a BT press advert was misleading and should not appear in its current form again.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 23rd September 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Government proposes single catch-all consumer protection law – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 21st, 2011 in bills, consumer protection, news by michael

“The Government has proposed centralising all existing UK consumer protection laws and regulations under a new Consumer Bill of Rights.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 21st September 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Super complaint filed over £1bn foreign currency fees – The Guardian

Posted September 21st, 2011 in complaints, consumer protection, fees, news, ombudsmen, unfair commercial practices by michael

“The Office of Fair Trading is to investigate whether UK holidaymakers are paying too much for foreign currency following a super-complaint by a consumer watchdog.”

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The Guardian, September 21st 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Consumers will lose out following extension of performers’ copyrights, academic claims – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 19th, 2011 in consumer protection, copyright, EC law, news by tracey

“Extending the term of copyright protection for sound recordings from 50 to 70 years will cost the general public more than €1bn, an intellectual property academic has claimed.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 19th September 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Dentists face Office of Fair Trading investigation – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 16th, 2011 in consumer protection, dentists, news by tracey

“Dentists are to be investigated by the Office of Fair Trading amid concerns that patients are confused about treatments and end up paying over the odds.”

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Daily Telegraph, 16th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ofcom bans rollover phone contracts – The Independent

Posted September 13th, 2011 in consumer protection, contracts, news, telecommunications by tracey

“Rollover contracts for landline and broadband customers are to be banned after the telecoms watchdog accused providers of locking households into long-term deals with little additional benefit.”

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The Independent, 13th September 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

OFT investigates hidden airline charges – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 9th, 2011 in airlines, consumer protection, electronic commerce, news by tracey

“The Office of Fair Trading has launched an investigation into whether airlines are hitting customers with hidden card surcharges when they book flights online.”

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Daily Telegraph, 8th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

 

Call for Evidence to assist investigation into will-writing, estate administration and probate activities – Legal Services Board

Posted September 5th, 2011 in consumer protection, legal services, news by sally

“The Legal Services Board (LSB) has today issued a call for evidence concerning how best to protect consumers of will-writing, probate and estate administration markets. The Board welcomes evidence from members of the public, legal businesses, other businesses active in these markets and all other interested parties. The deadline for evidence is 5pm, Friday 4 November 2011.”

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Legal Services Board, 5th September 2011

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

Some discount voucher adverts have been misleading, advertising watchdog says – OUT-LAW.com

“The UK’s advertising watchdog has resolved more than 50 cases involving discount voucher adverts since March, the watchdog has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 30th August 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

High Court bans gym firms’ use of unfair contracts and practices – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 23rd, 2011 in consumer protection, news, unfair contract terms by sally

“The High Court has banned a company from using contract terms and business practices it has deemed unfair, according to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).”

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OUT-LAW.com, 22nd August 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Distance selling advertising rules should be more limited, advertising body says – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 16th, 2011 in advertising, consultations, consumer protection, news by sally

“Broadcasters should only have to vet advertisers of goods and services sold online or over the phone if their adverts are targeted at consumers, the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 15th August 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Ofcom proposes stricter laws for accessing sexually explicit videos on-demand – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 12th, 2011 in children, consumer protection, media, news, pornography by sally

“The Government should create new laws to better protect against children’s exposure to adult content on UK video-on-demand (VOD) services, Ofcom has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th August 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Website censured over Kate Moss slogan T-shirts – The Guardian

Posted August 10th, 2011 in advertising, children, consumer protection, internet, news by sally

“A website that stocked a range of children’s T-shirts bearing a controversial quote from Kate Moss has been censured by the Advertising Standards Authority.”

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The Guardian, 10th August 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Airlines’ cheap ticket offers to be investigated – The Guardian

Posted August 8th, 2011 in advertising, airlines, consumer protection, EC law, news by tracey

“The European commission has launched an inquiry into airlines’ controversial ‘add-on’ charges that allow them to offer low prices bearing little resemblance to what ticket buyers end up having to pay.”

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The Guardian, 8th August 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk