Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008
Encyclopedia
The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 is a statutory instrument
in the United Kingdom
, made under the European Communities Act 1972
. It came into force on 26 May 2008.
The Regulations introduce new rules about consumer protection
and the responsibility of businesses to trade fairly. It places a general duty on traders not to trade unfairly.
The regulations also include a blacklist of 31 banned trading practices.
In February 2011, Safe Style UK became the first company to be prosecuted under the regulations. In an action brought by North Lincolnshire Council Trading Standards Department they were found guilty under part 25, (ignoring a request not to return) and fined £4000 with £18000 costs for repeatedly calling on a consumer in Scunthorpe
. This landmark ruling effectively gives householders the right to ban double glazing (or any other) salesmen from calling on them.
Statutory Instrument
A Statutory Instrument is the principal form in which delegated or secondary legislation is made in Great Britain.Statutory Instruments are governed by the Statutory Instruments Act 1946. They replaced Statutory Rules and Orders, made under the Rules Publication Act 1893, in 1948.Most delegated...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, made under the European Communities Act 1972
European Communities Act 1972 (UK)
The European Communities Act 1972 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom providing for the incorporation of European Community law into the domestic law of the United Kingdom. It is not to be confused with the Irish law of the same name, Act No...
. It came into force on 26 May 2008.
The Regulations introduce new rules about consumer protection
Consumer protection
Consumer protection laws designed to ensure fair trade competition and the free flow of truthful information in the marketplace. The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors and may provide additional...
and the responsibility of businesses to trade fairly. It places a general duty on traders not to trade unfairly.
The regulations also include a blacklist of 31 banned trading practices.
In February 2011, Safe Style UK became the first company to be prosecuted under the regulations. In an action brought by North Lincolnshire Council Trading Standards Department they were found guilty under part 25, (ignoring a request not to return) and fined £4000 with £18000 costs for repeatedly calling on a consumer in Scunthorpe
Scunthorpe
Scunthorpe is a town within North Lincolnshire, England. It is the administrative centre of the North Lincolnshire unitary authority, and had an estimated total resident population of 72,514 in 2010. A predominantly industrial town, Scunthorpe, the United Kingdom's largest steel processing centre,...
. This landmark ruling effectively gives householders the right to ban double glazing (or any other) salesmen from calling on them.
External links
- Text of the Regulations as enacted, from the Office of Public Sector InformationOffice of Public Sector InformationThe Office of Public Sector Information is the body responsible for the operation of Her Majesty's Stationery Office and of other public information services of the United Kingdom...
. - BBC News - New rules for consumer protection