October 17, 2011
A newly enforced Consumer Bill of Rights will “streamline confusing and overlapping legislation” and give UK consumer the protection they deserve, the government has announced.
Current rights of UK consumers are laid out in 12 Acts and regulations and this number of "overlapping" laws is confusing to consumers and costly to business, the government said.
However, the new law will bring these rights together and is expected to be implemented in 2013.
"Consumer law in the UK comes from a variety of Acts and regulation, making it complex and confusing," Ed Davey, Consumer Minister.
"This is bad for consumers and bad for business as people don’t know their rights and the cost of compliance for business is higher than necessary. This Bill will give everyone a single place to find all their consumer rights."
The Bill, which will update the law for goods and services and make admissions for digital content, will go far to clarify the law on unfair contract terms, consolidate consumer powers for Trading Standards, and provide much stronger protection for vulnerable customers targeted by misleading aggressive sales practices. And the Government's proposals were welcomed by consumer rights group Consumer Focus.
"A Consumer Bill of Rights would help streamline and modernise the current patchwork of consumer protection law, making things easier for consumers and businesses alike," Christine Farnish, Chair of Consumer Focus, said in a statement.
"Well informed consumers make markets work better. This is good for consumers, good for economic growth and good for Britain."
