This Research Paper has been produced to inform Second Reading debate on the Consumer Rights Bill, which was introduced to the House of Commons on 23 January 2014 and is due to have its Second Reading on 28 January 2014.
The Bill sets out a framework that consolidates in one place key consumer rights covering contracts for goods, services, digital content and the law relating to unfair terms in consumer contracts. The Bill also introduces easier routes for consumers and small and medium enterprises (‘SMEs’) to challenge anti-competitive behaviour through the Competition Appeal Tribunal (‘CAT’). In addition, the Bill consolidates and simplifies enforcers’ powers as listed in Schedule 5 to investigate potential breaches of consumer law and clarifies that certain enforcers (Trading Standards) can operate across local authority boundaries. Finally, the Bill will also give the civil courts and public enforcers’ greater flexibility to take the most appropriate action for consumers when dealing with breaches or potential breaches of consumer law.