Upcoming Changes To Consumer Contracting

Any UK business contracting with consumers should take note of the new Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Payments) Regulations 2013 (the Regulations). These Regulations replace the current UK Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 and the Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer's Home of Place of Work etc. Regulations 2008 (also known as the Doorstep Selling Regulations) and will affect all relevant consumer contracts entered on or after 13 June 2014.

Whilst some types of consumer contracts are excluded, the Regulations cover most types of consumer contracts including "on-premises" contracts, "off-premises" contracts and "distance" contracts.

This Advisory sets out details of the key changes for traders to be aware of. Whilst US traders contracting under US laws will not be affected by these changes, to the extent that US traders wish to target UK consumers, the Regulations provide a useful indication of the types of information that UK consumers will expect to be given and the cancellation/refund rights they will expect to enjoy.