Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 CPRs

[edit] Introduction

The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (known as the CPRs) were introduced to control unfair practices used by traders when dealing with consumers and to create criminal offences for traders that breach them.

[edit] History

The CPRs were adopted in May 2008. They replaced most of the regulations included in the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 (TDA). The CPRs were intended to protect consumers by making businesses take responsibility for their unfair trading practices. Under the CPRs, businesses include trades, crafts, professions and the activities of any government department, local or public authority.

In addition to the CPRs, the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008 (BPRs) were adopted to address fair practice activities in business-to-business advertising including conditions related to comparative advertisements.

[edit] Scope of coverage

The CPRs are grouped into four general areas, including three actions that would be deemed unfair if they caused consumers to follow a different course of purchasing action. These are:

• Actions and omissions that could be deemed as misleading.
• Practices that would be labelled as aggressive.
• Actions that would be generally considered unfair or contrary to professional responsibilities.

The fourth CPR area covers 31 practices prohibited under any circumstances. These can be grouped into several general categories, including:

• False endorsements or authorisations.
• Inertia sales (sending unsolicited goods to potential customers to make a sale).
• Making unreasonable demands.
• Misleading availability.
• Misleading context or effect.
• Overly aggressive sales.
• Pyramid schemes.
• Prize draws.

Guidance offered through Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading describes all 31 specific prohibited practices in detail.

[edit] Identifying different types of customers

The CPRs recognise that it is possible for different types of consumers to respond to trading practices differently, and it has designated these types as:

• Average consumers. These customers are reasonably well informed, observant and circumspect.
• Targeted consumers. These customers have been selected based on the likelihood of their interest in a specific product or service.
• Vulnerable consumers. These customers may be part of a physical or mental demographic that makes them susceptible to unethical trading practices.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Competition and Markets Authority CMA.
• Consumer.
• Consumer Council for Water CCWater.
• Consumer Rights Act.
• Green Claims Code.
• Greenwashing.
• Guarantees.

[edit] External resources

• Legislation.gov.uk, The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
• Office of Fair Trading, Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading.