Consumer law allows the less well informed to be ripped off!

cepheus

It seems that its OK for retailers to rip off those consumers who are less likely than average to make an informed decision! This seems to provide plenty of leeway and opportunities for sharp practice!

The “Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations” is a charter for rip-offs. The law explicitly states that deception is perfectly legal so long as it only deceives the less than average consumer.

Incredibly it is also explicitly legal under this law for a trader to knowingly engage “in a commercial practice which contravenes the requirements of professional diligence” so long as his actions are not “likely to materially distort the economic behaviour of the average consumer with regard to the product under regulation”.

wealdroam

So Cepheus, would you like to tell us how you would rewrite those regulations?

In particular, what should that phrase the average consumer be replaced with?

jacques_chirac

Maybe those that fall into said category should up their game? With the exception of those with disabilities that prevent them from making informed choices*, there is no reason in this day and age why someone should not be able to make an informed decision.

* Who are granted additional protections under the Equality Act and the Mental Capacity Act.

cepheus

Gosh not more corporate sentinels they are everywhere on MSE! Are there any consumers?

how about ninetieth percentile, or 'of sound mind'

Doesn't hurt much does it? Well to their profit margins it would!

cepheus

jacques_chirac wrote: »

Maybe those that fall into said category should up their game?

everyone less than average give up? :rotfl:

didn't a Tory minister recently say something similar about school performance? He couldn't understand 50% of people fall below the median by definition! So much for the educational standards of politicians.

jacques_chirac

cepheus wrote: »

everyone less than average give up? :rotfl:

didn't a Tory minister recently say something similar about school performance. He couldn't understand 50% of people fall below the median by definition!

Do you not understand the meaning of up their game? I wouldn't be criticising anyone else when you make such a fundamental error.

mo786uk

if there was no standard then anything could be misleading if 1 person was misled - the point is to set a standard.

sodukoman

cepheus wrote: »

everyone less than average give up? :rotfl:

didn't a Tory minister recently say something similar about school performance? He couldn't understand 50% of people fall below the median by definition! So much for the educational standards of politicians.

No, we should be educating up, not dumbing down.

In an attempt to do so with your good self do you understand the use of capitals at the beginning of sentences?

yangptangkipperbang

sodukoman wrote: »

No, we should be educating up, not dumbing down.

In an attempt to do so with your good self do you understand the use of capitals at the beginning of sentences?

He obviously does as they were used approximately 66% of the time..............:rotfl:

wealdroam

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

He obviously does as they were used approximately 66% of the time..............:rotfl:

Is that better or worse than the average consumer?

cepheus

jacques_chirac wrote: »

Do you not understand the meaning of up their game? I wouldn't be criticising anyone else when you make such a fundamental error.

You have made the fundamental error.

Even if those below the 50 percentile now, increase their consumer knowledge, there would remain 50 percent below average. This would allow businesses to legally increase the level of deception to target this 50% because of the way the law is written.

Stop blaming the consumers, it's the greedy businesses and the economic system which focuses on profits and shareholder value, which is the fundamental problem.