New consumer rights laws for online transactions?

[Dymo King]

I heard on the news this morning the government is introducing a new consumer law for online transactions into the Queen's Speech. Something about combining all the different laws into one bigger law that will give consumers more rights - because apparently they don't have enough already.

That's the first I'm hearing of it - does anyone have any details?

 

[BusinessTeam]

Looks to be the case but mostly focused on the purchasing of digital media by the looks of things:

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/gadgets/new-consumer-rights-law-gives-money-back-on-faulty-apps-50011135/

Best wishes

Richard

 

[10032012]

Looks to be the case but mostly focused on the purchasing of digital media by the looks of things:

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/gadgets/new-consumer-rights-law-gives-money-back-on-faulty-apps-50011135/

Best wishes

Richard

I quote...

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills estimates consolidating the legislation in one place will save up to £4 billion over 10 years. [...] Powers allowing trading standards officers to investigate breaches of consumer law are spread across no fewer than 60 pieces of legislation.

How would moving 60 pieces of legislation into one save £4 billion ("up to" of course)???

In order to investigate the work that needs to be done, it will be costing millions of pounds to draft the legislation alone... its not some kid on work experience copying and pasting text from many files into one... there is proper protocol involved. Furthermore, its going to cost (fixed cost none the less) for MPs to debate the Bill.

So, I will ask again... How would moving 60 pieces of legislation into one save £4 billion? Maybe its something I don't get.. anyone can explain it to me and anyone else who is confused?

 

[Cart By Design]

Rather than 60 big books, they have one huge book.... reminds me of Lord Of The Rings!

 

[alwaysinamess]

4 Billion, is an massive waste of money, a lot of times when we have had issues, the customer has in each case (only 3) led them up a garden path.

 

[ClubberLang]

The Consumer Bill of Rights will be the biggest shake up of consumer laws for maybe 30 years. Lots of laws will be simplified and put into one place. This should make them easier for consumers and businesses to understand. The law will also clarify a lot of the issues that arise under the current law so that disputes can be resolved much quicker.

The saving refers to money saved because disputes should be easier to resolve and consumers will not be brushed off by businesses when they don't understand their rights.

The legislation will undergo significant change - it is not a copy and paste job.

Laws like the Sale of Goods Act and Distance Selling Regulations will be gotten rid of for consumers.

The main change for online retailers si that the distance selling cancellation period will go form 7 days to 14. Businesses must refund within 14 days and consumers must send the item back within 14 days.

The bit about TS is not really relevant to this discussion. That part is being changed so its easier for TS to use their powers and its easier for businesses to understand what they are. 60 laws will be combined into one place. The 4billion saved is not related to this.

And it is not a 4 billion spend. But will cost money to change the law.

 

[10032012]

The Consumer Bill of Rights will be the biggest shake up of consumer laws for maybe 30 years. Lots of laws will be simplified and put into one place. This should make them easier for consumers and businesses to understand. The law will also clarify a lot of the issues that arise under the current law so that disputes can be resolved much quicker.

The saving refers to money saved because disputes should be easier to resolve and consumers will not be brushed off by businesses when they don't understand their rights.

The legislation will undergo significant change - it is not a copy and paste job.

Laws like the Sale of Goods Act and Distance Selling Regulations will be gotten rid of for consumers.

The main change for online retailers si that the distance selling cancellation period will go form 7 days to 14. Businesses must refund within 14 days and consumers must send the item back within 14 days.

The bit about TS is not really relevant to this discussion. That part is being changed so its easier for TS to use their powers and its easier for businesses to understand what they are. 60 laws will be combined into one place. The 4billion saved is not related to this.

And it is not a 4 billion spend. But will cost money to change the law.

Oh dear, sounds like they are doing this to relax certain laws... "simplified" is a government legal term for removing certain powers/rules.

Replacing SOGA and DSR is a bad deal.

 

[alwaysinamess]

The main change for online retailers si that the distance selling cancellation period will go form 7 days to 14. Businesses must refund within 14 days and consumers must send the item back within 14 days.

So the buyer can return on the 14th day but the seller has to refund within 14 Days ?

That is what you have wrote, am I wrong ?

You wrote - Businesses must refund within 14 days Do you mean within 14 days of sending it back, very unclear.

As for DSR, its not a major thing, in thousands of transactions I cant ever recall anyone quoting DSR, however I have a friend who always uses the DSR rule to accept a return, maybe just some people (like me) make the effort to not get these issues by trying hard to appease the customer ?

 

[10032012]

So the buyer can return on the 14th day but the seller has to refund within 14 Days ?

That is what you have wrote, am I wrong ?

You wrote - Businesses must refund within 14 days Do you mean within 14 days of sending it back, very unclear.

As for DSR, its not a major thing, in thousands of transactions I cant ever recall anyone quoting DSR, however I have a friend who always uses the DSR rule to accept a return, maybe just some people (like me) make the effort to not get these issues by trying hard to appease the customer ?

I assume he means an additional 14 days from the date the return is received.

 

[alwaysinamess]

I was taught to never assume, maybe I watched Pulp Fiction too many times, but its agreeable, assumption is the ..................of all ..... up's

If only we could use the excuse of 'Assumption' with trading standards

 

[ClubberLang]

These rules won't lead to a watering down of consumer rights - if anything they will strengthen them significantly.

The rights under the Distance Selling Regulations stem from Europe.

At the moment the business must refund within 30 days once the consumer has notified them they wish to cancel. The consumer has 7 working days to cancel.

The EU has recently changed the rules. Consumers will now have 14 calendar days to cancel. Businesses will now have to refund within 14 days (I think some were taking the P and waiting the full 30 days before refunding).

The Consumer Bill of Rights will bring together lots of pieces of law and will be sued to incorporate EU changes as well as domestic changes.

From the businesses perspective it should clarify things and also everything will be in one place so it should be easier to work out what the hell is going on.