Consumer Contracts (Information Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 Guidance
Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 Guidance: What You Need to Know
As a consumer, you have certain rights when it comes to contracts you enter into with businesses. The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation, and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 were put in place to protect those rights. This guidance will give you an overview of what these regulations entail and what you need to know.
Information Requirements
The first part of the regulations concerns the information that businesses must provide to consumers before entering into a contract. This information includes:
– The main characteristics of the goods or services being offered.
– The business’s identity (including their contact details).
– The total price of the goods or services (including any taxes or additional charges).
– Any delivery costs.
– The arrangements for payment and delivery.
– Information about the consumer’s cancellation rights.
Cancellation Rights
Under the regulations, consumers have the right to cancel a contract within 14 days of receiving the goods or agreeing to the service. The business must provide the consumer with a cancellation form or another clear means of cancelling the contract. If the consumer cancels the contract, the business must refund all payments made within 14 days of receiving the cancellation notice.
There are some exceptions to these cancellation rights, however. Contracts for certain types of goods or services (such as food, accommodation, or transport) are exempt from the regulations. Additionally, if the consumer has expressly agreed to the goods or services being provided within the 14-day cancellation period, they may still be required to pay for them.
Additional Charges
The final part of the regulations governs any additional charges that businesses may impose on consumers. In general, businesses must not charge consumers more than the price that was advertised or agreed upon at the outset of the contract. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as:
– If the consumer has requested additional services or products that were not included in the original contract.
– If the business can demonstrate that the consumer was made aware of the additional charges before agreeing to the contract.
If a business does impose additional charges on a consumer, they must obtain the consumer’s express consent before doing so.
In conclusion, the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation, and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 provide important safeguards for consumers when entering into contracts with businesses. By ensuring that businesses provide clear information upfront, allowing consumers to cancel contracts if they change their minds, and limiting the amount of additional charges that can be imposed, these regulations help to protect consumers from unfair or misleading practices. As a consumer, it’s important to know your rights under these regulations so that you can make informed decisions when entering into contracts.
