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Consumer Protection In The United Kingdom
Consumer protection in the United Kingdom is effected through a multiplicity of Acts of Parliament, statutory instruments, government agencies and departments and citizens' lobby groups and aims to ensure the market economy produces fairness and quality in 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 *English tort law *English contract law *Restraint of trade *Bank of England est 1694 *Trading Standards Institute, formerly the Incorporated Society of Inspectors of Weights and Measures ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Market Economy
A market economy is an economic system in which the decisions regarding investment, production and distribution to the consumers are guided by the price signals created by the forces of supply and demand, where all suppliers and consumers are unimpeded by price controls or restrictions on contract freedom. The major characteristic of a market economy is the existence of factor markets that play a dominant role in the allocation of capital and the factors of production. Market economies range from minimally regulated free-market and ''laissez-faire'' systems where state activity is restricted to providing public goods and services and safeguarding private ownership, to interventionist forms where the government plays an active role in serving special interests and promoting social welfare. State intervention can happen at the production, distribution, trade and consumption areas in the economy. The distribution of basic need services and goods like health care may be ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Financial Services Authority
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) was a quasi-judicial body accountable for the financial regulation, regulation of the financial services industry in the United Kingdom between 2001 and 2013. It was founded as the Securities and Investments Board (SIB) in 1985. Its board was appointed by the HM Treasury, Treasury, although it operated independently of government. It was structured as a company limited by guarantee and was funded entirely by fees charged to the financial services industry. Due to perceived regulatory failure of the banks during the financial crisis of 2007–2008, the Cameron–Clegg coalition, UK government decided to restructure financial regulation and abolish the FSA. On 19 December 2012, the ''Financial Services Act 2012'' received royal assent, abolishing the FSA with effect from 1 April 2013. Its responsibilities were then split between two new agencies: the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (United Kingdom), Prudent ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Postwatch
The New National Consumer Council, operating as Consumer Futures, was a non-departmental public body and statutory consumer organisation in England, Wales, Scotland, and, for postal services, Northern Ireland. It was established by the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007, and began operations in 2008 by the merging of Postwatch, Energywatch and the Welsh, Scottish and National Consumer Councils under the Consumer Focus brand. Following the UK Government's 2010 Spending Review, funding from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) for Consumer Focus was redirected to the Citizens Advice Bureau service, and in May 2013 Consumer Focus was renamed Consumer Futures. It was abolished as a non-departmental public body on 1 April 2014, when it was merged into Citizens Advice. History The National Consumer Council was established by the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007, which merged Postwatch, Energywatch and the Welsh, Scottish and National Consume ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
National Consumer Council
National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, census-designated place * National, Nevada, ghost town * National, Utah, ghost town * National, West Virginia, unincorporated community Commerce * National (brand), a brand name of electronic goods from Panasonic * National Benzole (or simply known as National), former petrol station chain in the UK, merged with BP * National Car Rental, an American rental car company * National Energy Systems, a former name of Eco Marine Power * National Entertainment Commission, a former name of the Media Rating Council * National Motor Vehicle Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA 1900-1924 * National Supermarkets, a defunct American grocery store chain * National String Instrument Corporation, a guitar company formed to manufacture the first resonator gu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Automobile Repair Shop
An automobile repair shop (also known regionally as a garage or a workshop) is an establishment where automobiles are repaired by auto mechanics and technicians. Types Automotive garages and repair shops can be divided into following categories: Service Station * First appearing in the early 1900s, many filling stations offered vehicle repair services as part of their full service operation. This once popular trend has declined significantly over the years as many locations found it more profitable to exchange vehicle service bays for grocery isles, which ultimately lead to the emergence of the quick oil change industry. Lubrication/Safety Shop * Commonly referred to as a quick lube or express service shop, this type of facility specializes in preventive maintenance and safety inspections rather than repairs. Product sales are typically limited to automotive fluids, belts and hoses. With a focus on basic procedures, labor is often performed by entry-level technician ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Good Garage Scheme
Good Garage Scheme is a series of same name automobile repair shop monitoring schemes in the United Kingdom (UK), claiming to improve industry repair standards for the benefit of consumers. The service is not run by an independent organisation, but by a company manufacturing lubricants and other automotive products, and any garage wanting to be member is required to recommend and sell the products from this company. The scheme provides some benefits to customers for example accountability and feedback, however the motivation and impartialness of the website has been called into question causing some controversy. Initially, Trade Secretary Stephen Byers raised the idea for a government "good garage" scheme in December 2000. After Good Garage Scheme (government) was released in 2002, the motor industry sought to develop its own good garage scheme in May 2003 as a way of self-regulating its garage members. By 2006, the motor industry had not implemented its Good Garage Scheme (indus ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
General Consumer Council Of Northern Ireland
The General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland (GCCNI) was created by the Government in 1985 and is funded by the Department for the Economy (DfE). The body aims to represent consumers' interests. It is designated by the Secretary of State as being able to bring a super-complaint A super-complaint is a complaint made in the UK by a state-approved "super-complainant"/watchdog organisation on behalf of consumers, which was fast-tracked to a higher authority such as the Office of Fair Trading (prior to its dissolution on 1 Ap ... to the OFT: References Northern Ireland Executive 1985 establishments in Northern Ireland Organizations established in 1985 {{NorthernIreland-org-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Consumer Council For Water
The Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) is a non-departmental public body whose sponsor department is Defra. CCWater is independent of both the regulator, Ofwat, and the water companies. CCWater represents the interests of water and sewerage consumers in England and Wales. The organisation provides impartial advice and/or advocacy for aggrieved customers. It has a remit to support both household customers of water companies and business customers of licensed retailers. There are four regional committees in England (Northern, Central & Eastern, London & South East and Western) and one in Wales. Each committee oversees water companies and licensed retailers in their area. The head office is in Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham and a second office is in Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Campaign For Real Ale
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is an independent voluntary consumer organisation headquartered in St Albans, England, which promotes real ale, cider and perry and traditional British pubs and clubs. With just under 155,000 members, it is the largest single-issue consumer group in the UK, and is a founding member of the European Beer Consumers Union (EBCU). History The organisation was founded on 16 March 1971 in Kruger's Bar, Dunquin, Kerry, Ireland, by Michael Hardman, Graham Lees, Jim Makin, and Bill Mellor, who were opposed to the growing mass production of beer and the homogenisation of the British brewing industry. The original name was the Campaign for the Revitalisation of Ale. Following the formation of the Campaign, the first annual general meeting took place in 1972, at the Rose Inn in Coton Road, Nuneaton. Early membership consisted of the four founders and their friends. Interest in CAMRA and its objectives spread rapidly, with 5,000 members signed up by 197 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Super-complainant
A super-complaint is a complaint made in the UK by a state-approved "super-complainant"/watchdog organisation on behalf of consumers, which was fast-tracked to a higher authority such as the Office of Fair Trading (prior to its dissolution on 1 April 2014). The official body now in charge of general consumer protection super-complaints is the Competition and Markets Authority. A super-complaint, as defined in section 11(1) of the UK's Enterprise Act 2002, is a complaint submitted by a designated consumer body that "any feature, or combination of features, of a market in the UK for goods or services is or appears to be significantly harming the interests of consumers". Some of the super-complainants under the Office of Fair Trading scheme were: * ''Which?'' * National Consumer Council * Citizens Advice * Energywatch * Consumer Council for Water (formerly known as Watervoice) * Postwatch * Campaign for Real Ale * General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland ''What Car?'' magazi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Secretary Of State For Trade And Industry
The secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with responsibility for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The incumbent is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. The incumbent Business Secretary is Grant Shapps who was appointed by Rishi Sunak on 25 October 2022. Responsibilities Corresponding to what is generally known as a commerce minister in many other countries, the business secretary's remit includes: * Oversight of science, research and innovation in Britain * Relations with domestic and international business * Policy relating to climate change * Policy relating to deregulation * Policy relating to energy security * Oversight of energy policy and industrial policy History During the government of Sir Alec Douglas-Home, the then President of the Board of Trade Edward Heath was given in addition the job of Secretary of State for Industry, Trade an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Enterprise Act 2002
The Enterprise Act 2002 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which made major changes to UK competition law with respect to mergers and also changed the law governing insolvency bankruptcy. It made cartels illegal with a maximum prison sentence of 5 years and states that level of competition in a market should be the basis for investigation. Structure *Part 1: The Office of Fair Trading (ss 1-11) *Part 2: The Competition Appeal Tribunal (ss 12-21) *Part 3: Mergers **Chapter 1: Duty to make references (ss 22-41) **Chapter 2: Public interest cases (ss 42-58) **Chapter 3: Other special cases (ss 59-70) **Chapter 4: Enforcement (ss 71-95) **Chapter 5: Supplementary (ss 96-130 *Part 4: Market Investigations **Chapter 1: Market investigation references (ss 131-138) **Chapter 2: Public interest cases **Chapter 3: Enforcement **Chapter 4: Supplementary (ss 168-184) *Part 5: The Competition Commission (ss 185-187) *Part 6: Cartel offence (ss 188-202) *Part 7: Miscellaneous C ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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