How Legislation Protects Consumers

Legislation Protecting Consumers

Legislation is a set of rules or laws which are implemented to regulate, restrict, authorise, or promote certain actions or activities for the benefit of society or specified groups, such as consumers.
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 is a key piece of legislation that protects consumer rights. It stipulates that all goods, digital content, and services sold to consumers must be of satisfactory quality, as described, and fit for purpose.
If a product or service does not meet these standards, consumers have the legal right to ask for a repair, replacement, or refund.
Transactions facilitated through credit or debit cards are safeguarded by the Consumer Credit Act 1974. This offers additional protection for purchases between £100 and £30,000.

Sale of Goods Act (Replaced by Consumer Rights Act)

The Sale of Goods Act 1979, replaced by the Consumer Rights Act in 2015, protected consumers against faulty goods, goods unsuitable for the purpose intended, and goods not matching their description or sample.
Goods sold must be of satisfactory quality and fit for their usual purpose, a specific purpose agreed at the point of sale, and match any description given or models shown when purchased.

Data Protection

The Data Protection Act 2018 regulates how companies can use, store, and dispose of personal data.
It ensures consumers’ privacy by limiting companies from selling personal data without consent.
It also allows yet restricts accessibility, so that consumers can have access to their own data at any point.

Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract Regulations

The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 protects consumers against unfair terms and conditions set by a trader.
Terms are considered ‘unfair’ if they create a significant imbalance in the parties’ rights and obligations, to the detriment of the consumer.

Product Liability Regulation

Under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, if a product causes injury, death or damage, the producer potentially may be held liable, regardless of whether the consumer bought the product or not.
Consumers can claim for compensation if they can prove the product was defective and caused harm.

Consumer Rights for Digital Content

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 was the first UK law to protect the rights of consumers buying digital content.
It stipulates that digital content must be of satisfactory quality, fit for specific purpose and as described in the contract.