Consumer meaning

This tracker outlines the consultation papers issued by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) from 2008–2013, listed in reverse date order, and includes links to the relevant FSA webpage and/or PDF versions of the papers. For details of Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) consultation papers, together with subsequent rules and guidance, see: • FCA consultation paper tracker-2021 [Archived] 2013 Publication date Consultation Paper (including FSA webpage if available) Description March 2013 - FSA webpage: CP13/9: Implementation of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive Part 2; CP13/9: Follow-up consultation on draft rules and guidance for implementing the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD). March 2013 - FSA webpage: CP13/8: Publishing information about warning notices; CP13/8: Proposals on how the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) would publish details about the subject-matter of a warning notice where it considers publication appropriate. March 2013 - FSA webpage: CP13/7: Consumer credit regulation-our proposed regime; CP13/7: Invites views on the proposed framework and rules for the new consumer...

The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Consumer Duty The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Consumer Duty sets a high bar for the care firms must deliver to retail customers. It has applied to new and existing products and services open to sale or renewal from July 2023, and to closed-book products and services from July 2024. The FCA continues to release materials to support firms with implementing and embedding the Consumer Duty. This timeline summarises publications and developments connected to the Duty. The Duty comprises high-level, outcomes-focused requirements that apply to firms operating in retail markets for regulated financial services and products. It covers all firms involved in the creation, provision, operation, marketing, or distribution of products and services offered to retail customers—whether or not a direct customer relationship exists with the end user. For fuller information on the FCA’s Consumer Duty and its constituent parts, see Practice Note: The FCA Consumer Duty—essentials and checklists: The FCA Consumer Duty Checklist—implementation and The FCA Consumer Duty Checklist—information sharing in...

This Checklist sets out core topics for firms entering consumer credit, addressing essential management and compliance matters within the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) framework. It organises themes such as authorisation, threshold conditions, the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SM&CR), systems and controls, business planning, FCA Principles, the Consumer Duty and continuing regulatory duties, including adherence to the Consumer Credit sourcebook (CONC) and the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (CCA 1974). For fuller guidance, including how the application process works, see Practice Note: FCA authorisation of consumer credit firms. Scope and regulatory status Do the firm’s activities amount to regulated consumer credit activities under section 19 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA 2000), and the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001, SI 2001/544 (RAO)? See Practice Notes: The general prohibition and implications of its breach and Regulated activities relating to consumer credit Does the firm offer (or plan to offer) buy now pay later (BNPL)/deferred payment credit (DPC) style products?...

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This Flowchart sets out the consumer cancellation rights that must be made available to consumers entering on-premises contracts, off-premises contracts and distance contracts for the supply of services Use this guide when a practitioner needs to verify which cancellation entitlements apply to consumers purchasing services in accordance with the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, SI 2013/3134 (CCR 2013). Note 1—a consumer is an individual acting for purposes that are wholly or mainly outside their trade, business, craft or profession. Note 2—certain sector-specific contracts are regulated separately, such as financial services contracts, rental contracts and package travel contracts, and are excluded in full from the CCR 2013. For more information, see Practice Note: Distance, doorstep and on-premises sales—Excluded contracts...

ARCHIVED: 11 pm (GMT) on 31 December 2020 signalled the conclusion of the Brexit transition/implementation phase that followed the UK’s exit from the EU. At that moment in time (known in UK legislation as ‘IP completion day’), the principal transitional provisions finally ceased. From IP completion day, the UK is unable to take an active role in the European Arrest Warrant (EAW), as EAWs apply solely to Member States...

In this issue: Electricity and gas market regulation and licensing Renewable energy Conventional power, waste to energy, biomass, and CHP projects Hydrogen, CCUS and emerging technologies Energy disputes Air emissions, efficiency, and climate change International energy LexTalk®Energy: a Lexis®Nexis community New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Energy resources on Lexis+® Daily and weekly news alerts Electricity and gas market regulation and licensing DESNZ confirms enduring governance for Smart Secure Electricity Systems DESNZ has issued its response to the 2025 consultation on enduring governance for the Smart Secure Electricity Systems (SSES) Programme, confirming that Elexon, through the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC), will establish new Technical and Security Governance Groups to guide the technical and security frameworks that enable consumer-led flexibility. Using powers in section 245 of the Energy Act 2023, the government will amend the BSC so Elexon can run these groups as BSC Panel sub-committees and...

In this issue: Electricity and gas market regulation and licensing Networks and network connections Renewable energy Capacity Market, balancing services and energy system flexibility International energy Daily and weekly news alerts Dates for your diary Trackers Electricity and gas market regulation and licensing DESNZ launches consultation on regulating TPIs in the retail energy market The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has opened a consultation to bring Third Party Intermediaries in the retail energy market under regulation, bolstering consumer protection and aiding the shift to a cleaner energy system. Triggered by cases of consumers and businesses being targeted by unregulated rogue brokers and other TPIs, this forms part of the government’s ongoing support for Ofgem to develop an effective market for non-domestic customers, alongside implementing recommendations from Ofgem’s July 2023 non-domestic policy consultation. The consultation closes on 15 November 2024. See: LNB News 20/09/2024 36. Ofgem launches statutory consultation on SoLR Levy Offset...

In this issue: Key DR developments Claims and remedies Costs and funding Litigation Case management Evidence and disclosure ADR Scottish Dispute Resolution New content Dates for your diary Useful information Daily and weekly news alerts Dispute Resolution Highlights 2025/2026 Key DR developments Alternative dispute resolution European Parliament adopts new rules to modernise out-of-court dispute resolution for consumers The European Parliament has approved refreshed measures to enhance consumer out-of-court complaint handling, updating the EU’s ADR framework for the digital landscape and cross-border disputes. The reforms delineate ADR’s reach to cover matters arising both before and after contractual agreements, and in specified circumstances enable involvement by traders from third countries. The directive will come into force 20 days following publication and will begin to apply 32 months thereafter. For more, see: Parliament adopts new rules to modernise out-of-court dispute resolution for consumers—LNB News 16/12/2025 Court information HMCTS update hearing...

Consumer protection legislation applies to businesses generally and to the regulated financial services sector This Practice Note explores the obligations on firms authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA 2000) (herein referred to as ‘firms’) to comply with a central element of consumer protection law, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA 2015), together with its predecessor, the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999, SI 1999/2083 (UTCCRs). In addition to these statutory duties, firms must follow the FCA’s regulatory rules and take account of guidance relevant to unfair contract terms. Under the CRA 2015, the FCA may challenge firms regarding the fairness and/or transparency of contractual terms and notices in financial services consumer contracts (whether in standard form or individually negotiated) entered into from 1 October 2015. Under the UTCCRs, the FCA may challenge firms regarding the fairness or transparency of contractual terms in standard form financial services contracts entered into before 1 October 2015. ...

Allocation of jurisdiction within the UK under the CJJA 1982 This Practice Note explores how jurisdiction is apportioned across the UK under the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982 (CJJA 1982). It examines the scope of that regime and the conditions that must be satisfied for it to apply, and considers its interaction with Regulation 1215/2012, Brussels I (recast) (the Regulation). It sets out the primary rule together with the departures from it, and, lastly, addresses forum non conveniens in this setting. The CJJA’s intra-UK jurisdiction framework is designed to furnish rules allocating jurisdiction inside the UK itself. Distinct rules and factors arise when assessing whether UK courts possess jurisdiction over a claim that contains an international dimension. The UK comprises four countries, yet there are only three legal jurisdictions, and CJJA 1982, s 50, describes each as ‘parts of the UK’. England and Wales Scotland Northern Ireland Practitioners in England engaged in cross-border disputes must be cognisant of a range...

This table summarises all completed investigations by Singapore’s competition authority (the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore—the CCCS) into alleged cartels, anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant positions since 2018. Note—only investigations that have been made public are included in this table. 2025 Investigations under section 34 of the Competition Act Remittance services — ZGR Global; Hanshan Issues: Restrictive agreement—information exchange Developments: Decision finding infringement—31/07/2025; penalties totalling $5.36m imposed Contracting — Trust-Build Engineering & Construction Pte. Ltd; Hunan Fengtian Construction Group Co. Ltd Issues: Restrictive agreement—bid rigging Developments: Decision finding infringement—23/05/2025; penalties totalling $4.6m imposed Investigations under section 47 of the Competition Act The CCCS has not yet issued any decisions under section 47 in 2025 2024 Investigations under section 34 of the Competition Act Remittance services — ZGR Global Pte Ltd; Hanshan...

Before purchasing anything on our website, please read these important terms and conditions and ensure they include everything you expect and nothing you are unwilling to accept. Summary of some of your key rights: The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 state that, in most cases, you can change your mind within 14 days of receiving your goods and receive a full refund. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires goods to be as described, fit for purpose and of satisfactory quality. During the expected lifespan of your product, you are entitled to the following: up to 30 days: if your goods are faulty, you can get a refund; up to six months: if repair or replacement is not possible, you are entitled to a full refund in most cases; up to six years: if the goods do not last a reasonable length of time, you may be entitled to some money back. This is a summary...

Cancellation clauses—doorstep or distance sales contracts 1 Right to cancel 1.1 You are entitled to cancel this contract within 14 days without stating any reason. [ However, for certain goods you do not have the right to cancel, or you may lose that right in specific circumstances. This is explained further in clause 1.6 below. ] 1.2 [ The cancellation period will end 14 days after the day on which you receive, or a person you nominate receives, [ the goods OR the last good OR the last lot or piece OR the first good ] . OR 1.3 The cancellation period will end 14 days after the day on which you receive, or a person you nominate receives: 1.3.1 the goods (unless one of the options below applies to your order); or 1.3.2 the last good (if you ordered multiple goods in a single order and they are delivered separately); or 1.3.3 the last lot...

Before purchasing from us, please review these important terms and conditions to confirm they include everything you expect and nothing you would be unwilling to accept. Summary of some of your key rights: Under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, you generally have 14 days from receiving your goods to change your mind and obtain a full refund. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 states that goods must be as described, fit for purpose and of satisfactory quality. Across the expected lifespan of your product, you are entitled to the following: up to 30 days: if your goods are faulty, you can get a refund; up to six months: if it cannot be repaired or replaced, you are entitled to a full refund in most cases; up to six years: if the goods do not last a reasonable length of time, you may be entitled to some money back. This is a brief outline of...

As a broad principle, nothing bars a creditor from setting any supply preconditions they consider suitable, save for statutory carve-outs (typically concerning consumer credit, public policy, and unlawfulness). Acceptance of those preconditions by a third party (in your scenario an individual or another business) rests on commercial bargaining, and will be agreed or declined through negotiation between parties. See: Guide to dealing with a distressed business—overview, and Practice Note: A creditor’s guide to dealing with a company in financial difficulty...

There are a number of points to weigh up when determining if a consumer credit agreement is regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (CCA 1974). Under the CCA 1974, s 8(1), a consumer credit agreement is described as an agreement between an individual (“the debtor”) and any other person (“the creditor”) whereby the creditor extends credit of any amount...

The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPUTR 2008), SI 2008/1277 The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPUTR 2008), SI 2008/1277, outlaws unfair commercial practices that harm consumers’ economic interests. Such practices cover areas like product labelling. For more detail, refer to Practice Note: The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (pre-6 April 2025) [Archived]. Examples of prohibited behaviour include misleading actions, as specified in reg 5 of CPUTR 2008, SI 2008/1277...