Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013

Resumen

The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 implemented the EU Consumer Rights Directive and are a central part of UK consumer law for contracts made at a distance (e.g. online or by phone), off-premises (e.g. at the consumer's home), and on-premises. They require a trader to give the consumer specified pre-contract information (Part 2), and give the consumer a right to cancel most distance and off-premises contracts within a 14-day cooling-off period without giving a reason (Part 3, regs 29-30), with the period extended where the trader failed to provide the required cancellation information (reg 31). On cancellation the trader must reimburse the consumer, generally within 14 days (reg 34). The Regulations also tackle inertia selling and ban traders from using pre-ticked boxes to add charges, requiring the consumer's express consent for any payment beyond the agreed price (Part 4). Certain contracts are excepted, including bespoke or clearly personalised goods, perishable goods, and sealed audio, video, or health items once unsealed.

Puntos clave

• 14-day cooling-off period to cancel most distance and off-premises contracts without giving a reason (regs 29-30)
• Pre-contract information the trader must give before the contract is made (Part 2, regs 10 and 13)
• Cancellation period extended (up to 12 months) where cancellation information was not provided (reg 31)
• Trader must reimburse the consumer, generally within 14 days of cancellation (reg 34)
• Ban on pre-ticked boxes and protection from inertia selling; express consent needed for extra charges (Part 4)
• Exceptions — bespoke/personalised goods, perishable goods, sealed health/hygiene items, and downloaded digital content

Partes y secciones