Consumer Rights Act 2015: Difference between revisions

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The same Part covers services, requiring that they be performed with reasonable care and skill,

for a ~~reaso~~

for a reasonable price if not agreed in advance, and within a reasonable time. Pre-contractual

information provided to a consumer — such as descriptions given at the point of sale — forms

part of the service contract and cannot be unilaterally changed by the trader.<ref name="stevens-bolton">{{Cite web

| url = https://www.stevens-bolton.com/site/insights/briefing-notes/changes-to-consumer-law-in-the-uk-consumer-rights-act-2015

| title = Consumer Rights Act 2015: What has changed?

| publisher = Stevens & Bolton LLP

| accessdate = 2026-03-17

}}</ref>

=== Part 2: Unfair terms ===

Part 2 consolidates the law on unfair terms in consumer contracts, replacing the Unfair Contract

Terms Act 1977 and the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999. A term is unfair if,

contrary to the requirement of good faith, it causes a significant imbalance in the parties'

rights and obligations to the detriment of the consumer. Unfair terms are not binding on the

consumer.<ref name="legislation-gov"/>

Critically, the Act introduces a '''prominence''' requirement: terms that relate to the main

subject matter of the contract or set the price must be both '''transparent''' (expressed in

plain, intelligible language) and '''prominent''' (brought to the consumer's attention in such

a way that an average consumer would be aware of them) in order to be enforceable.<ref name="cma-unfair">{{Cite web

| url = https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a807f4c40f0b62302693daf/Unfair_Terms_Explained.pdf

| title = Unfair Contract Terms Explained (CMA37)

| publisher = Competition and Markets Authority

| date = 2015-07-31

| accessdate = 2026-03-17

| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20260101000000/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a807f4c40f0b62302693daf/Unfair_Terms_Explained.pdf

| archivedate = 2026-01-01

}}</ref>

Schedule 2 of the Act contains a non-exhaustive "grey list" of terms that may be regarded as

unfair, including terms that allow the trader to determine the characteristics of the subject

matter after the contract is concluded, and terms that impose disproportionate charges on

consumers who cancel.

=== Section 50: Pre-contractual information ===

Under Section 50, information provided to a consumer before a service contract is entered into

becomes a binding term of that contract. This means that representations made at the point of

sale — including descriptions of what a service or product covers — cannot be contradicted by

separate terms buried elsewhere. This provision has particular relevance where traders make

implicit representations through the way they present products or services in a checkout or

booking flow.

== Consumer relevance ==

The CRA 2015 is the primary legislative tool available to UK consumers facing:

* Goods or services that do not match their description at point of sale

* Warranty or guarantee terms that are not disclosed prominently before purchase

* Contract terms that create a significant imbalance in favour of the trader

* Traders who attempt to rely on terms the consumer was not made aware of

Enforcement of the Act can be pursued by individual consumers through the courts or via

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Public enforcement powers rest with the Competition and

Markets Authority (CMA) and local Trading Standards services, who can take action against

traders for systemic breaches.<ref name="commons-briefing"/>

== See also ==

* [[Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008]]

* [[Halfords Limited]]

* [[Tyre warranty sold via mobile fitting, redeemable only at fixed garages]]

== References ==

[[Category:Legislation]]

[[Category:UK legislation]]

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 The same Part covers services, requiring that they be performed with reasonable care and skill,
-for a reaso
+for a reasonable price if not agreed in advance, and within a reasonable time. Pre-contractual
+information provided to a consumer — such as descriptions given at the point of sale — forms
+part of the service contract and cannot be unilaterally changed by the trader.<ref name="stevens-bolton">{{Cite web
+| url        = https://www.stevens-bolton.com/site/insights/briefing-notes/changes-to-consumer-law-in-the-uk-consumer-rights-act-2015
+| title      = Consumer Rights Act 2015: What has changed?
+| publisher  = Stevens & Bolton LLP
+| accessdate = 2026-03-17
+}}</ref>
+=== Part 2: Unfair terms ===
+Part 2 consolidates the law on unfair terms in consumer contracts, replacing the Unfair Contract
+Terms Act 1977 and the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999. A term is unfair if,
+contrary to the requirement of good faith, it causes a significant imbalance in the parties'
+rights and obligations to the detriment of the consumer. Unfair terms are not binding on the
+consumer.<ref name="legislation-gov"/>
+Critically, the Act introduces a '''prominence''' requirement: terms that relate to the main
+subject matter of the contract or set the price must be both '''transparent''' (expressed in
+plain, intelligible language) and '''prominent''' (brought to the consumer's attention in such
+a way that an average consumer would be aware of them) in order to be enforceable.<ref name="cma-unfair">{{Cite web
+| url        = https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a807f4c40f0b62302693daf/Unfair_Terms_Explained.pdf
+| title      = Unfair Contract Terms Explained (CMA37)
+| publisher  = Competition and Markets Authority
+| date       = 2015-07-31
+| accessdate = 2026-03-17
+| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20260101000000/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a807f4c40f0b62302693daf/Unfair_Terms_Explained.pdf
+| archivedate = 2026-01-01
+}}</ref>
+Schedule 2 of the Act contains a non-exhaustive "grey list" of terms that may be regarded as
+unfair, including terms that allow the trader to determine the characteristics of the subject
+matter after the contract is concluded, and terms that impose disproportionate charges on
+consumers who cancel.
+=== Section 50: Pre-contractual information ===
+Under Section 50, information provided to a consumer before a service contract is entered into
+becomes a binding term of that contract. This means that representations made at the point of
+sale — including descriptions of what a service or product covers — cannot be contradicted by
+separate terms buried elsewhere. This provision has particular relevance where traders make
+implicit representations through the way they present products or services in a checkout or
+booking flow.
+== Consumer relevance ==
+The CRA 2015 is the primary legislative tool available to UK consumers facing:
+* Goods or services that do not match their description at point of sale
+* Warranty or guarantee terms that are not disclosed prominently before purchase
+* Contract terms that create a significant imbalance in favour of the trader
+* Traders who attempt to rely on terms the consumer was not made aware of
+Enforcement of the Act can be pursued by individual consumers through the courts or via
+Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Public enforcement powers rest with the Competition and
+Markets Authority (CMA) and local Trading Standards services, who can take action against
+traders for systemic breaches.<ref name="commons-briefing"/>
+== See also ==
+* [[Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008]]
+* [[Halfords Limited]]
+* [[Tyre warranty sold via mobile fitting, redeemable only at fixed garages]]
+== References ==
+<references/>
+[[Category:Legislation]]
+[[Category:UK legislation]]