MSE News: Consumer refunds to be made easier under new laws

Sparhawke wrote: »

Thanks for this news Helen.

Banning pre-ticked tick-boxes online for extras that the consumer may not want or need, which could result in an unexpected payment. This will apply where the sector doesn't already have its own specific rules on this. For example, websites that sell standalone flights will no longer be able to pre-tick boxes, but sites that sell packaged holidays are governed by their own existing rules.

I personally think that NO box should be pre-ticked, or made to be purposely misleading in order to charge you for something; I have seen a growing trend where boxes have been pre-ticked and then go on to say 'uncheck this box if you want to be screwed out of all your money in your account*' next to boxes that have been ticked that have to be removed in order not to get email spam.

*obviously it doesn't say that literally, change the text to something appropriate

It should be an opt in for all tick boxes!

Sometimes the wording is vague whether a tick box should be ticked or not!

Giving consumers 90 days to cancel a contract and receive a full refund if they have been misled or bullied into agreeing it

Making it clear that consumers have a right to their money back where traders have misled or bullied them into paying money which wasn't owed

These are all well and good, but surely it's going to be difficult to manage? No-one is going to say "Yes, we misled you, have your money back". In most cases, the misleading is done verbally before the consumer signs a contract they don't read thoroughly because of what they've been told. If it goes to court, the misleader provides a signed contract, the consumer has nothing.

While having a defined period and defined outcome is great, I don't think many people will be able to take advantage of it.

galaxynicole wrote: »

Is this going to applied to phone contracts aswell? So someone might decided after 2 months that they don't like their phone anymore, go in and try to make out that they were missold it and they can get a refund??? Even though the phone has been used for 2 months?

there will still be a burden on them to prove it.

welcome changes but my issue is with the way they are implemented - as suggested tyring to put them into existing laws in the way they are doing is not oging to help and will only create confusion.

they cannot go in the consumer bill of rights because th EU reqires them to be implemented before the COB will be finished - but they could certainly have made it simpler than this,

Watch out for websites that re-tick the box you unchecked if you make an error...

i.e. you fill in the form completely - hit submit - then the website alerts you to something you have missed or mistyped. The tick is reinstated into box!!