Tesco fined over ‘half-price’ strawberries claim – BBC News
“Tesco has been fined £300,000 after admitting it misled customers over whether strawberries on sale were genuinely ‘half price.’ ”
BBC News, 19th August 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: unfair commercial practices
Benedetti v Sawiris and others – WLR Daily
Benedetti v Sawiris and others [2013] UKSC 50; [2013] WLR (D) 286
“A restitutionary award made on the basis of unjust enrichment where the benefit was in the form of services was normally to be assessed by reference to the objective market value of the services, tested by the price which a reasonable person in the defendant’s position would have had to pay for the services, and taking into account conditions which increased or decreased the objective value of the benefit to any reasonable person in that position.”
WLR Daily, 17th July 2013
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
Benedetti (Appellant) v Sawiris and others (Respondents) – Supreme Court
Benedetti (Appellant) v Sawiris and others (Respondents) [2013] UKSC 50 | UKSC 2011/0087 (YouTube)
Supreme Court, 17th July 2013
Can you spot the difference? New research published on the impact of lookalike products – Technology Law Update
“We are continually hearing about the inherent value of a brand. A well established brand helps customers identify the product they’re buying and can reassure them about the quality they can expect. It is therefore no surprise that other companies often try to piggyback off well established brands in order to sell their similar product.”
Technology Law Update, 5th July 2013
Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk
OFT issues warning over personalised pricing transparency – OUT-LAW.com
“Businesses must be more transparent about the way they collect information about consumers in order to offer personalised prices for goods and services online, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has said.”
OUT-LAW.com, 20th May 2013
Source: www.out-law.com
Banks Take First Round In Interest Rate Swap Mis-Selling Claims – No. 5 Chambers
“Following the announcement in June 2012 by the Financial Services Authority of a two month investigation in to the sale (and in particular mis-selling) of interest rate hedging products such as swaps, collars, structured collars there is considerable interest in whether such claims are likely, following Payment Protection Insurance, to become another key battleground in financial services litigation.”
No. 5 Chambers, 7th February 2013
Source: www.no5.com
SSE fined record £10.5m by Ofgem over ‘prolonged and extensive’ mis-selling – The Guardian
“The utility giant SSE is to be fined £10.5m for ‘prolonged and extensive’ mis-selling in what will be the largest ever penalty imposed on an energy provider.”
The Guardian, 3rd April 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
OFT rules out petrol prices inquiry – The Guardian
“Rising petrol prices will continue to be a headache for cash-strapped motorists after the consumer watchdog concluded there is no evidence of unfair marketing or trading between oil companies and retailers.”
The Guardian, 30th January 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Pub industry adjudicator plans put forward – BBC News
“The government has announced plans for an independent adjudicator in the pub industry to help struggling landlords.”
BBC News, 8th January 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Unfair’ supermarkets could face hefty fines under new watchdog – The Guardian
“Large UK supermarkets which abuse their power in the marketplace and treat suppliers ‘unfairly’ could be fined by a new watchdog under changes announced by the Department for Business.”
The Guardian, 4th December 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Supermarkets agree to prices and discounts code – BBC News
“Eight supermarkets have agreed to ensure that special offers and price promotions are fair. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has been investigating the way prices are displayed, advertised and promoted in stores.”
BBC News, 30th November 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Costly ‘prizes’ firms breach EU law, judges rule – The Independent
“Companies tantalising consumers with ‘prizes’ which then cost money to claim or use are breaching EU law, judges ruled today.”
The Independent, 18th October 2012
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Rules governing transparent financial advice already being bent, says FSA – The Guardian
“New rules abolishing the payment of commission on pensions and investments have not yet come into force, but financial advisers and product providers have already found ways to get around the ban, according to the Financial Services Authority (FSA).”
The Guardian, 1st October 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Energy firm SSE loses appeal on mis-selling – BBC News
“SSE has lost an appeal into a conviction for tricking potential customers into switching from their existing energy firm.”
BBC News, 16th March 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
OFT uncovers ‘unfair’ mobility aid sales practices – The Guardian
“Evidence of unfair sales practices targeted at elderly and vulnerable consumers buying mobility aids has been uncovered by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), leading to an investigation into two nationwide traders.”
The Guardian, 29th September 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Super complaint filed over £1bn foreign currency fees – The Guardian
“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.”
The Guardian, September 21st 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Consumers should have private rights of redress against unfair business practices, OFT says – OUT-LAW.com
“New laws are needed to give consumers better rights to take private action against businesses that adopt unfair commercial practices, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has said.”
OUT-LAW.com, 1st August 2011
Source: www.out-law.com
Airlines risk legal action over credit card ‘sting’ – The Independent
“Budget airlines, theatres and football clubs risk legal action if they continue to levy inflated charges for paying by credit and debit cards, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) warned yesterday.”
The Independent, 29th June 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
New competition authority will deal with some consumer complaints, says Government – OUT-LAW.com
“The Government has outlined proposals to give a prospective new competition authority powers to resolve consumer complaints.”
OUT-LAW.com, 22nd June 2011
Source: www.out-law.com
Loans firms decision due from OFT – BBC News
“A decision over whether action should be taken against firms making unsolicited loan offers is due from the fair trading regulator later.”
BBC News, 1st June 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
