Consumer Rights Act Gives New Rights to Consumers
Consumers who buy digital products, such as music downloads or ebooks, now have new legal rights when these products are faulty. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 came into force on 1st October and introduced specific rules entitling shoppers to a repair or replacement when digital products are faulty. The law will also clarify rules around […]
Insurance Bill Becomes Law
Legislation that implements reforms recommended by the Law Commissions of England and Wales and of Scotland to modernise and simplify insurance contract law across the UK has received Royal Assent. The Insurance Act 2015 will give effect to a number of reforms recommended by the Law Commissions, including: Under a new “duty of fair presentation”, […]
New Rights for Consumers
New rights came into force on 1st October 2014 that give consumers greater powers to challenge rogue traders and get their money back. Under the changes, consumers who are bullied or misled into buying services or goods they neither need nor want will now have a period of up to 90 days to take legal […]
Contractual Rights and Doorstep Traders
In a decision that has been welcomed by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the Supreme Court has recently ruled that a consumer who entered into a doorstep selling contract was entitled to cancel his contract and get his money back when a trader failed to tell him about his legal right to cancel. The […]
Reforming Insurance Contract Law
A bill has been introduced to the UK Parliament that will update the 100-year-old rules governing contracts between businesses and insurers. According to the UK Government, the Insurance Bill will introduce a more modern legal regime that will benefit both insurers and their business customers by increasing transparency and certainty over the rules that govern […]
New Bill Proposes Changes to Scots Contract Law
A new Bill to simplify contract law in Scotland has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament. The Legal Writings (Counterparts and Delivery) (Scotland) Bill is based on recommendations contained in a Scottish Law Commission report, and will make two major innovations to Scots law and practice. The Bill will clarify that a document which is […]
Rectifying consumer disputes – consultation
Plans to give consumers greater access to redress if something goes wrong with their purchase of goods or services are the subject of a recently launched Government consultation. The consultation sets out the Government’s proposals for an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme to help consumers resolve their complaint without the cost and hassle of going […]
Misrepresentation in a contract – new ruling
The Supreme Court has recently given its ruling in a contractual dispute involving the lease to a grouse moor. The case dates back to 2006 when a Mr Erskine was in discussions with the owners of a grouse moor over the possibility of leasing it – although he had expressed concerns about the level of […]
Issues remaining in Consumer Rights Bill
The Government’s draft Consumer Rights Bill has the potential to consolidate, simplify and modernise consumer law, but this depends on resolving issues and inconsistencies in the draft, according to a recent report from Parliament’s Business, Innovation and Skills Committee. While the Bill intends to create enhanced protection for consumers of services, it only includes a […]
New international rules on mediation
Mediation, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution, often offer a better solution to commercial disputes than going to court – so it is good to see that the new International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Rules of Mediation are now in force. The new Rules came into force on 1st January, replacing an earlier set […]