Collection

Consumer protection guidance

Information for consumers and businesses on their rights and responsibilities under consumer law.

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 31 March 2014
• Last updated: 5 June 2014 — See all updates

For information on how the Competition and Markets Authority uses its consumer powers to address problems in markets, visit our consumer protection enforcement guidance.

Some of this guidance was originally published by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and has been adopted by the CMA board.

Consumer law changed on 1 October 2015, as the Consumer Rights Act came into force.

Consumer law for businesses

General guidance for businesses on complying with consumer law and making sure their contract terms are fair.

• Competition and consumer laws for business: OFT911
  • 1 October 2008
  • Guidance
• Consumer law court proceedings: notifying the CMA
  • 29 July 2024
  • Guidance
• How to write fair contracts: information for businesses
  • 23 March 2016
  • Guidance
• Unfair contract terms: CMA37
  • 31 July 2015
  • Guidance

Cancelling goods or services

• Cancelling goods or services: guide for consumers
  • 2 March 2016
  • Guidance

Car rental

• Renting a car: what to look out for
  • 23 March 2016
  • Guidance
• Selling car rental: advice for businesses
  • 29 March 2018
  • Guidance

Care homes

• Care homes: short guide to consumer rights for residents
  • 16 November 2018
  • Guidance

Children's online games

• Buying features in online games: advice for parents and carers
  • 4 June 2015
  • Guidance

Heat networks

• Heat networks: Advice for customers and the industry
  • 23 July 2018
  • Guidance

Higher education

• Higher education: guide to consumer rights for students
  • 12 March 2015
  • Guidance
• Higher education: consumer law advice for providers
  • 31 May 2023
  • Guidance

Letting residential property

• Consumer protection law for lettings professionals: CMA31
  • 3 October 2019
  • Guidance

Online dating

• Online dating: what to look out for
  • 13 June 2018
  • Guidance
• Online dating and consumer law: advice for business
  • 13 June 2018
  • Guidance

Online gambling

• Online gambling promotions: advice for gamblers
  • 29 August 2018
  • Guidance
• Online gambling promotions: do’s and don’ts
  • 29 August 2018
  • Guidance

Online hotel booking

• Online hotel booking: principles for businesses
  • 26 February 2019
  • Guidance

Online reviews and endorsements

• Online reviews and endorsements: advice for businesses
  • 4 March 2016
  • Guidance
• Content creators and social media endorsements
  • 3 November 2022
  • Guidance

Secondary ticket websites

• Secondary ticketing websites: advice for consumers
  • 5 March 2015
  • Guidance

Supermarket and food pricing

• Unit pricing: information for consumers
  • 16 July 2015
  • Guidance

Published 31 March 2014
Last updated 5 June 2014 + show all updates

1. 5 June 2014

   'Unfair contract terms: materials for businesses' added to 'Unfair terms guidance' section.

2. 31 March 2014

   First published.