Topic 25 Consumer Rights, Complaints & Compensation Flashcards
The below are what in relation to consumer rights legislation?
- Clear & honest information before they buy
- Get what they paid for
- Be supplied with goods that are fit for purpose & services that are performed with reasonable care & skill
- Have any faults corrected free of charge, or get a refund/replacement
Key Consumer Rights
When did the Consumer Rights Act come into effect?
1st October 2015
The below are what in relation to Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA)?
- What to do when goods are faulty
- What should happen when digital content is faulty
- How services should match up to what has been agreed & what should happen if they are not
What the Consumer Rights Act (CRA) covers
The below are what in relation to Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA)?
- What should happen when goods & services are not provided with reasonable care/skill
- Unfair terms in contracts
- Greater flexibility such as the FCA & training standards to respond to breaches of consumer law
What the Consumer Rights Act (CRA) covers
The Consumer Rights Act (CRA) was the first consumer rights legislation to detail what should happen if a service is not provided with reasonable care and skill.
True or False
True
What is the purpose of the Alternative Dispute Regulation (ADR)?
- Reduce the number of disputes between businesses & consumers ending in court action
- Improved speed which disputes are resolved
- Costs of disputes reduced
How does a business go about resolving a dispute?
Approach the services of a certified alternative dispute resolution provider
When approaching a certified alternative dispute provider the business must find out whether or not the customer is willing to use the service.
True or False
True
What Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is this?
Decisions can be appealed through courts.
Adjudication
What Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is this?
Decisions cannot be appealed through courts
Arbitration
The below are what in relation to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)?
- Based on information provided by both parties
- Binding on both parties
- Can be enforced by courts
Decisions
The legislation in relation to Unfair Contract Terms covers what?
- Fairness
- Transparency
- Good Faith
Which legislation in relation to Unfair contact terms is this?
- All terms of the contract be fair
- All terms must adhere to the requirement of food faith
- Any unfair term or notice will not be binding on the customer (unless they choose to be bound by it)
Fairness
All the below are what in relation to fairness?
- Disproportionately high charges where the customers decides not to proceed with services yet to be provided
- Terms allowing the business to determine subject matter after the customer is bound
- Terms allowing the business to determine the price after the customer is bound
Terms that are deemed unfair
Which legislation in relation to Unfair contact terms is this?
Written terms of a contract should be transparent & expressed in clear, easily understood language.
Transparency
If there is any doubt about the meaning of a written term who’s interpretation is adopted?
Customers or Business?
Customers
Which legislation in relation to Unfair contact terms is this?
Term that causes a significant imbalance between the rights & obligations of the various parties to the contract to the detriment of the consumer will be deemed a breach of good faith
Good Faith
The below are what in relation to consumer contacts?
- Request that a firm amend or remove an unfair contract term from it’s future consumer contracts
- Prevent a firm imposing the terms against existing customers
How the FCA can challenge unfair terms
To prevent a firm imposing the terms against existing customers what does the FCA need to do?
Appeal to a court for an injunction
The below is what in relation to the FCA’s handbook what section does it cover?
- Firms should take into account consumer’s legitimate interests in relation to contracts
- Fairness is not contrary to the Prudential management of a firm but part of it
- Focusing on narrow technical arguments to justify a contract term maybe unfair
Unfair Contract Terms & Consumer Notices Regulatory Guide (UNFCOG)
The below is what in relation to the FCA’s handbook what section does it cover?
- Schedule to the CRA & UTCCR’s each contain an indicative & non-exhaustive list of terms that maybe regarded as unfair
- Firms should take into account developments in legislation & relevent case law concerning the fairness & transparency of terms in consumer contracts
Unfair Contract Terms & Consumer Notices Regulatory Guide (UNFCOG)
The below are all examples of what?
- Legislation
- Ombudsman bureau & other arbitration schemes
- Voluntary codes of practice
- Compensation Schemes
- Consumer bodies
Consumer Protection
Regarding consumer protection the FCA lists that it cannot do what?
- Cannot protect investors from falls in the stock market
- Sets limits on the amount of compensation from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
Which government department has these responsibilities?
- Maintaining control over public spending
- Working to achieve stronger & sustainable economic growth
- Responsible for regulation of financial services under the authority of the chancellor
HM Treasury
Which government department has these responsibilities?
- Collects money that pays for UK’s public services
- Helps individuals with targeted financial support
- Deal with individuals who require self assessment
- Pension providers also have dealings to reclaim tax taken at source
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
Which government department has these responsibilities?
- Responsible for welfare, pensions & child maintenance
- Administers state pension
- Adminsers working age, disability, Ill health benefits
The Department for Work & Pensions
Which government department has these responsibilities?
- Protect members of the public by disrupting & being to justice organised criminals
- Tackles money laundering, fraud, bribery & corruption
National Crime Agency (NCA)
The below services have been brought together to make what service?
- Money Advice Service
- The Pensions Advisory Service
- Pension Wise
The Money & Pensions Service (MaPS)
The Money & Pensions Service (MaSP) is sponsored by the Department for Work & Pensions?
True or False
True
What is the aim of the Money & Pensions Service (MaPS)?
Help individuals manage their personal finances
The below are what in relation to The Money & Pensions Service (MaPS)?
- Pensions Guidance
- Debt Advice
- Money Guidance
- Customer Protection
- Strategy
5 functions of The Money & Pensions Service (MaPS)
What does Which? do?
- Protect consumer rights
- Review products & service
- Offers independent advice on variety of subjects
What does Citizens Advice do?
- Offer free, confidential & independent advice to help people overcome their problems
Both Which? & Citizens Advice have “Super-Complaint” status but what does it mean?
Can make complaints straight to the FCA
Where are the rules for dealing with complaints & compensation set out?
- Dispute Resolution Handbook (DISP)
- Compensation Handbook (COMP) rules governing eligiblity under Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
What is this is relation to a complaint?
- Financial Loss
- Material Distress
- Material Inconvenience
What the FCA defines as a compliment