This idea has been created by the Scrutinise team as a historical case study. It represents real legislation that reached the statute book through civil society advocacy. It is presented here to show how that process might have looked on Scrutinise.
Consumer Rights Act 2015
Consolidated and modernised UK consumer protection law, for the first time covering digital content, and introduced new rules on unfair terms and trader remedies. Which? ran a sustained evidence-based campaign from 2008 to 2014 that directly shaped the legislation.
Summary
Consolidated and modernised UK consumer protection law, for the first time covering digital content, and introduced new rules on unfair terms and trader remedies. Which? ran a sustained evidence-based campaign from 2008 to 2014 that directly shaped the legislation.
Challenge (summary)
Consumer protection law was spread across the Sale of Goods Act 1979, Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, and Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 — outdated and inconsistent, and not covering digital goods at all.
Approach (summary)
A single, clear Consumer Rights Act replacing the fragmented framework, explicitly covering digital content, with clear remedies (repair, replace, refund) and enforceable by Trading Standards.
First step (summary)
Repeal Sale of Goods Act 1979 and related legislation, replace with a single Act covering goods, services and digital content, provide clear 30-day short-term right to reject, and give the Competition and Markets Authority power to seek injunctions against unfair terms.