Major Companies Breaching New Consumer Laws
I will be presenting evidence on May 23rd 2016 to the Westminster Legal Policy Forum and on the 24th to a conference at the Peace Palace in The Hague (home of the International Court of Justice) of breaches of consumer law by many top companies. As from February 2016 all companies in Europe selling goods and services online to consumers have had a legal duty* to ensure that their websites contain a readily accessible** hyperlink to a special European Union website that wi
New Years Resolutions To Rise?
The 1st October 2015 was quite a momentous day for ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) and ODR (Online Dispute Resolution). Its just a pity very few businesses in the UK knew about it. Very few knew that, when they walked into their offices or opened virtually for their online business, they were now the unpaid marketing agents for Online Dispute Resolution. It was from that day that large numbers of businesses were required to comply with The Alternative Dispute Resoluti
New Requirements on Retailers to Inform Customers from 1/10/15 of Forms of Alternative Dispute Resol
As from the 1st October 2015 it will be an offence for any business selling goods or services to people buying other than for the purpose of a trade, profession, business or craft to not inform those customers whose complaints they do not resolve, of the details of an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service that covers such transactions, is accessible and operational online, and has been approved by Trading Standards. Further, the business must say whether or not they wi
Westminster Business Forum
I was pleased to be invited to speak at a recent (5th February) Westminster Business Forum on the forthcoming changes in consumer law and the implementation this year of the European Directive on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and coming into force of the Regulation on Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) for resolving consumer disputes online. The list of speakers and subjects, which included policy makers with key stakeholders, consumer bodies, trade associations, ADR pro
Different perspectives – A strategic approach to change in the ADR industry
By Tresca Rodrigues The alternative dispute resolution (ADR) industry is at a pivotal point of change and its ability to respond effectively is vital for future success. Changes to the ADR landscape (EU ADR Directive, the government’s civil justice agenda, legal aid cuts) have pushed dispute resolution away from the expense of a lengthy court process. These changes continue to gain further momentum with the recent Civil Justice Council’s recommendation on the use of online di
The Unintended Consequences of the New EU Law on ADR/ODR?
"You do not examine legislation in the light of the benefits it will convey if properly administered, but in the light of the wrongs it would do and the harms it would cause if improperly administered." - Former US President Lyndon Johnson. (Note: You can download a longer version as published in Digital Democracy and E-Government by clicking here) All legislation starts out with a reasonably clear objective in mind and develops in time during legislative hearings together w
