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New powers to fine firms that exploit consumer loyalty | |
admin | |
2019-06-18 | |
发布年 | 2019 |
语种 | 英语 |
国家 | 英国 |
领域 | 气候变化 |
正文(英文) | Press release New powers to fine firms that exploit consumer loyaltyTough new powers for competition watchdog to fine businesses directly who have broken consumer law. ![]()
Firms that overcharge or mislead their customers could be hit with direct fines without the need to go through a court, under plans unveiled by Business Secretary Greg Clark today (18 June 2019). The government has confirmed it will consult on giving the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) new powers to decide itself whether consumer law has been broken, without having to go through the courts as is currently the case. New powers would enable the CMA to intervene earlier and more quickly to tackle these failings and would include being able to directly impose fines on firms for poor business behaviour. This will act as a powerful deterrent to firms that are harming consumers with misleading claims, unfair terms and conditions and hard-to-exit contracts - practices that are central to many ‘subscription traps’. These measures aim to ensure subscriptions are as easy to exit as they are to enter. It also helps the CMA tackle bad practices in other consumer markets like secondary ticketing and unfair terms for care home residents. The government also announced that it will legislate to give regulators, such as Ofcom and the Financial Conduct Authority, new powers to stop loyal customers being taken advantage of if their existing powers are insufficient. Prime Minister Theresa May said:
Business Secretary Greg Clark said:
The proposed measures come as the government publishes a clear and direct response to the recommendations by the CMA on the Super Complaint on consumer loyalty brought forward by Citizens Advice. The new powers will be consulted on in the government’s upcoming Consumer White Paper. Other proposed measures in the response include legislating, if necessary, to ensure mobile providers end the practice of charging customers the same rate once they have effectively paid off their handsets at the end of the minimum contract period. This comes after the government published its findings of the Smart Data Review, as part of London Tech Week. These plans aim to shake-up the way markets work for consumers by making it easier for them to safely share their information with innovative new services that could find them better deals. The review also included measures to protect vulnerable consumers, including a new Vulnerable Consumer Challenge which will encourage innovators, charities and regulators to ensure their most vulnerable and least digitally engaged customers are able to enjoy the best deals. Consumer Minister Kelly Tolhurst will be holding a Consumer Forum today (18 June 2019), which brings together government and regulators to ensure a cross-sectoral approach to improving consumer outcomes in these essential markets. This will also look at progress over the last 6 months from regulators. The government also recently announced plans to create a new independent, statutory advocate for consumers in the telecoms sector, which will strengthen the consumer voice and help industry, regulators and government identify how to improve the consumer experience. Notes to editorsAccording to Citizens Advice research, customers who stayed loyal to their mobile and broadband providers, or to those providing financial services like savings, mortgages and insurance, were paying as much as £1,000 a year more than serial switchers – a total £4 billion overpayment across these sectors. False reviews and enforcements, excessive holiday cancellation fees and unfair care home charges are all areas where the Competition and Markets Authority has acted to protect consumers recently.
Published 18 June 2019
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URL | 查看原文 |
来源平台 | GOV.UK - Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
文献类型 | 新闻 |
条目标识符 | http://119.78.100.173/C666/handle/2XK7JSWQ/133037 |
专题 | 气候变化 |
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714 | admin. New powers to fine firms that exploit consumer loyalty. 2019. |
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