Earlier this month, the UK Government published a wide-ranging white paper, A Better Deal for Consumers - Delivering Real Help Now and Change for the Future. One idea in the paper is to appoint a new Consumer Advocate to enforce consumer rights and wage war against rogue businesses. Jill Insley at The Guardian calls the proposal "genius." The chief executive of consumer watchdog Which?, Peter Vicary-Smith, also welcomed the white paper, but cautioned: "The jury is out on the creation of the role of Consumer Advocate, for the devil is in the detail. It will be interesting to see how the role will fit in with the organisations and roles that already exist."
The Government also plans to publish a Consumer Rights Bill. The Government wants to fundamentally overhaul UK consumer law to make it simpler for both businesses and consumers. Under plans announced in May 2008, ministers hope to replace the 100-plus consumer laws with more flexible general rules, and bring together several core consumer rights into a single new law.
Here's are some of the most important consumer statutes currently in effect, which the Government could consolidate into one new law:
2. Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982
3. Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002
5. Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000
6. Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008
7. Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999
Additional Information & Advice
You can obtain further information about consumer rights on FindLaw.
Depending on the circumstances of your case, however, it may be a good idea to speak with a solicitor who specialises in consumer law. You can be matched with a solicitor in your area for free via solicitor matching services, which can also help you to understand the best course of action for your situation and whether you are ready to hire a solicitor.
In addition, they may be able to help you find a solicitor who will agree to take your case on a "no win no fee" basis, which means you don't have to pay for the solicitor's services unless you win your case.
