New consumer rights legislation that will cover apps and media downloads will be unveiled today (May 8th) during the Queen’s annual speech to Parliament.
Current consumer rights that cover products such as cars and white good will be extended to web-based products in a bid to make the law “for the 21st Century”.
The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) estimated that the changes could save the economy up to £4bn over the next decade by consolidating consumer rights in one place, as these are currently split between eight different pieces of legislation.
In addition, powers giving trading standards officers to ability to investigate breaches of consumer law are governed by no less than 60 pieces of legislation.
According to the Consumer Minister, Jo Swinson, the consumer rights bill will strengthen the marketplace by making it fairer for consumers and businesses which will benefit from faster resolution of complaints, as they will spend less time and money dealing with them.
The Bill contains protection for consumers who download games or films and will make it clear that a consumer must receive a refund if a game freezes or film is unwatchable even if the broadband connection is strong enough.
There will also be protection for consumers making it easier for them to apply for compensation for breaches of competition law, plus new powers for trading standards officers to seek court orders requiring compensation to be paid.
The Bill is being welcomed by consumers rights organisations such as Which?, which said that if it is made easier for people to understand their rights, they have the power to tackle bad practice, while regulators will have the tools they need to challenge unscrupulous businesses that breach the law.