Coming very soon: Consumer Rights Act 2015

Consumer facing businesses need to prepare now as new legislation under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA), the latest in a line of new consumer facing legislation will be in force in just over a week.

Whilst most of the changes implemented by the CRA are updates to existing laws, there are two new areas of law:

• it will be the first time that rights on digital content will be set out in legislation;
• for the first time there are clear rules on what should happen if a service is not provided with reasonable care and skill as agreed.

With clear ‘rights to reject’, the CRA now makes it clear what should happen and what consumers may do when goods are faulty. Acknowledging the changing nature of commerce in the digital sphere there is also separate provision stating what should happen and what consumers may do when digital content (e.g. online films, games and e-books) is faulty.

The supply of services

Unfair terms in consumer contracts

Do I take action?

• sales contracts, terms and conditions, standard website and app terms
• pre-contractual information
• cancellations and returns policies