United Kingdom: Consumer Protection

The ASA has ruled against Shop TJC for misleading teleshopping advertisements that made unsubstantiated price comparison and exclusivity claims about watches.

The Financial Conduct Authority has published its roadmap for open finance, outlining a clear and ambitious path for 2026-2030 that will guide the development and delivery of open finance in the UK. The roadmap sets out three distinct phases of activity, starting with collaboration to prioritize high-impact use cases in 2026, moving to framework design and coordination in 2027, and culminating in scaling and delivery from 2028 to 2030.

The Fundraising Regulator has launched a consultation proposing new registration thresholds for free draw operators, requiring them to contribute 20% of ticket sales to charity—matching society lottery standards. These proposed changes follow the Government's publication of a Voluntary Code of Good Practice for Prize Draw Operators and could significantly impact how charitable free draws operate in the UK.

The Advertising Standards Authority has issued a landmark ruling on the nutritional classification of doner kebabs, determining whether they fall under the category of less healthy foods for advertising purposes.

The Competition and Markets Authority has issued its first financial penalty under new enforcement powers, ordering the AA and BSM driving schools to pay £4.2 million and refund over £760,000...

The Competition and Markets Authority has issued its first infringement decision under the UK's new consumer enforcement regime, fining the AA £4.2 million for misleading pricing practices and requiring substantial consumer refunds. This landmark case signals a fundamental shift in UK consumer protection enforcement, with businesses now facing significantly tougher penalties including fines up to 10% of turnover and mandatory consumer redress schemes.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, inventory turnover experienced a notable increase in the apparel and luxury goods sectors compared to the third quarter, while declines home, outdoor, and durable products...

The UK government has launched consultations proposing a fundamental overhaul of product safety regulation that would transform online marketplaces from passive platforms into active regulatory gatekeepers. These reforms introduce proactive duties requiring marketplaces to prevent, identify and remove dangerous products through systematic risk management, seller verification and enhanced enforcement mechanisms.

The UK government has released its Construction Products Reform White Paper and General Safety Requirement consultation, proposing sweeping changes to construction products regulation. These reforms introduce stricter compliance requirements, enhanced enforcement powers including criminal sanctions and unlimited fines, and establish clear accountability across all construction industry stakeholders from manufacturers to developers.

The BNPL market has grown significantly in recent years, from £0.06 billion in 2017 to over £13 billion in 2024. According to the FCA's 2024 Financial Lives Survey, 20% of UK consumers (10.9 million adults)...

On 11 February 2026, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published Policy Statement 26/1: "Regulation of Deferred Payment Credit (unregulated Buy Now Pay Later): Feedback to CP25/23" (PS26/1)...

The FCA’s publication of its final rules in PS26/3 marks a significant milestone in the regulation of motor finance, establishing a formal consumer redress scheme for customers...