Summary and Background
3.The Consumer Rights Act 2015 sets out a framework that consolidates in one place key consumer rights covering contracts for goods, services, digital content and the law relating to unfair terms in consumer contracts. In addition, the Act introduces easier routes for consumers and small and medium sized enterprises (“SMEs”) to challenge anti-competitive behaviour through the Competition Appeal Tribunal (“CAT”). The Act clarifies the maximum penalties that the regulator of premium rate services can impose on non-compliant and rogue operators. It also consolidates enforcers’ powers as listed in Schedule 5 to investigate potential breaches of consumer law and clarifies that certain enforcers (Trading Standards) can operate across local authority boundaries. It will also give the civil courts and public enforcers greater flexibility to take the most appropriate action for consumers when dealing with breaches or potential breaches of consumer law. Additionally, it changes the way in which judges are able to sit as chairs in the CAT; and imposes a duty on letting agents to publish their fees and other information. Further, the Act expands the list of higher education providers which are required to join the higher education complaints handling scheme, and includes certain requirements relating to resale of tickets for recreational, sporting and cultural events.
4.The Act is in three Parts:
	Consumer contracts for goods, digital content and services;
	Unfair terms; and
	Miscellaneous and general, including investigatory powers; amendment of the Weights and Measures (Packaged Goods) Regulations 2006; enhanced consumer measures and other enforcement under the Enterprise Act 2002; clarification of the maximum penalties that the regulator of premium rate services can impose on non-compliant and rogue operators; private actions in competition law; a change in the way in which judges are able to sit as chairs in the CAT; a duty on letting agents to publicise fees and other information; expansion of the list of higher education providers which are required to join the higher education complaints handling scheme; and certain requirements relating to resale of tickets for recreational, sporting and cultural events.