Consumer protection in the United Kingdom
Open-knowledge reference entry
Consumer protection in the United Kingdom is effected through a multiplicity of Acts of Parliament, statutory instruments, the work of various government agencies and departments, and citizens' lobby groups. It aims to ensure the market economy produces fairness and quality in the goods and services people buy. The main areas of regulating consumer affairs include:
fairer terms in contracts for goods and services, by declaring surprising and onerous terms as unfair
product safety regulation, to ensure people cannot purchase goods that are potentially harmful
financial regulation, to ensure access to credit is cheaper, and people fully understand the obligations they have when taking loans
stronger competition in the private sector, through breaking up cartels, dismantling monopolies, and unwinding some mergers.
History
The Department of Prices and Consumer Protection was established in 1974. This was the first time a government department's title made reference to consumer protection.
In 2011 Consumer Minister Edward Davey announced plans within a policy document called Better Choices, Better Deals: Consumers Powering Growth to ensure that businesses would provide key information to their customers on how they use and buy goods and services, aiming to help consumers secure the best deals possible, and to make business more dynamic in response. The government considered this to offer "a radical new approach" to consumer empowerment.
The Financial Conduct Authority and the Competition and Markets Authority were both set up in 2013 and enforce many consumer laws and regulations in the United Kingdom across a variety of industries.
The Financial Conduct Authority, formerly the Financial Services Authority.
Competition and Markets Authority, formerly the Competition Commission and the Office of Fair Trading.
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