Sunday Trading Rules May Be Relaxed for Supermarkets
Supermarkets may soon be able to open for longer hours under government plans to help boost the post-lockdown economy. Under current rules, supermarkets in England and Wales are only permitted to trade for six consecutive hours between 10am and 6pm. However, new legislation is being drafted which would suspend the current Sunday Trading laws for […]
CMA Calls For Emergency Legislation To Pursue Opportunist Retailers
The Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has called for the UK Government to introduce new emergency legislation to tackle price gouging tactics by companies profiteering from the pandemic. Under current laws, the competition watchdog is unable to pursue retailers for heavily inflating prices of products in response to the virus. The CMA is now asking […]
Consumers Struggle to Get Refunds for Holiday Bookings
With flights, accommodation, tours and holiday plans disrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic, consumers are expressing increasing frustration as holiday companies appear to flout consumer protection laws by refusing to offer refunds. While some airlines, hotels and tour operators are approving refunds, albeit reluctantly, others are making it difficult to request refunds, with some refusing […]
New Consumer Guidelines For UK Fertility Clinics
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is to issue consumer law guidelines for the IVF sector to ensure that fertility clinics practice in accordance with consumer law. The CMA is working closely with the sector regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to review current practices in the […]
Online giants pledge to tackle fake online reviews
Facebook and eBay have signed agreements pledging to combat the use of fake and misleading reviews on their sites. Following an investigation by the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) last year, both sites have responded to the CMA’s demand to take measures to better identify, investigate and respond to fake and misleading reviews. Three […]
Customers Sue Ticketmaster Over Major Data Protection Breach
Ticketmaster is facing a £5 million claim following a major data breach of its UK websites last year. More than 650 customers affected by the security breach are taking legal action against the ticket sales company. Up to 40,000 UK Ticketmaster customers are believed to have had “some personal or payment information” stolen following the […]
Greater Protection for Consumers as Claims Management Companies Come Under FCA Regulation
Regulation of Claims Management Companies has, from 1st April 2019, been transferred from the Claims Management Regulator to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Claims management companies in England, Scotland or Wales will now have to apply to the FCA for authorisation and adhere to a new set of industry rules. Claims management companies charge to […]
New Cars to have Automatic Speed Limiters as Standard by 2022
New car safety rules agreed by the European Union will see automatic speed limiters become standard features in all new vehicles from 2022. All new cars sold in the EU are to be fitted with intelligent speed assistance technology to stop drivers exceeding speed limits. Intelligent speed assistance (ISA) limiters work by using road sign recognition cameras […]
Proposed Consumer Law Reforms Include GDPR-Level Penalties
Proposals have been published at both an EU and UK level to radically strengthen the enforcement powers of industry regulators in a bid to champion consumer rights. The ‘New Deal for Consumers’ legislative initiative comes in response to concerns that consumer law is being poorly enforced and that sanctions are inadequate. What is being proposed? […]
Consumers Urged to Check for Unclaimed Power of Attorney Refunds
Less than 20% of a rebate fund for Power of Attorney applications has been claimed, according to figures obtained from the Ministry of Justice by Royal London. Refunds are available for applicants who were overcharged for part of a Power of Attorney application fee during a specific three-year period. An estimated one million people are […]
Hotel Booking Sites Given Deadline to End Misleading Sales Tactics
Industry regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has confirmed six of the largest hotel and holiday booking websites have agreed to change their online practices in response to concerns that consumers are being misled and prevented from finding the best deals. Agoda, booking.com, ebookers, Expedia, Hotels.com and trivago have all undertaken to abide by […]
Fine for H Samuel Over Unfair Pricing Promotions Online
High Street jewellery chain H Samuel has been fined £60,000 after pleading guilty to 17 breaches of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations. The company, owned by Signet Trading Limited, was investigated by the trading standards service of Torfaen Council in Wales for use of unfair pricing promotions online. The breached related to sale […]