Changes to Consumer Protection Laws are Due to Take Effect on 13 June 2014

The Consumer Rights Bill was introduced to Parliament on 23 January 2014 and will now begin its passage through Parliament, in line with the EU Consumer Rights Directive. Explanatory Notes have also been published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in order to assist in the interpretation of the Bill. The draft, currently before Parliament differs from the previous version in several ways:

• it covers goods which are manufactured or produced for a consumer;
• it allows a trader the chance to repair a device damaged by its digital content;
• it removes a clause, from the rules on unfair terms, requiring a trader to bring an unusual term to the consumer’s attention; and
• it gives a private enforcer the right to impose new enhanced consumer measures.

The changes will overhaul the outdated legislation in force currently (see our previous articles below) and will apply to all contracts concluded on or after 13 June 2014. Retailers will need to update their distance selling processes, online practices and terms and conditions to ensure these are compliant with the new regulations.

Read our previous article Perfect Harmony? The new Consumer Rights Directive.

If you would like more information in relation to any of the issues discussed in this article, please contact Tom Torkar, an Associate in the Technology, Media and Communications Team, at tom.torkar@michelmores.com.