Chapter 4Alternative dispute resolution for consumer contract disputes
- Section 291Meaning of “ADR” and related terms
(1) This section has effect for the purposes of this Chapter. (2) “ADR” means any method of securing or facilitating an out-of-court resolution of a consumer contract dispute…
- Section 292Other definitions
(1) This section has effect for the purposes of this Chapter. (2) “Consumer contract” means (subject to the following provisions of this section) a contract between a trader…
- Section 293Prohibitions relating to acting as ADR provider
(1) A person must not carry out ADR in relation to a consumer contract dispute unless the person— (a) is an exempt ADR provider whose exemption covers the…
- Section 294Prohibitions relating to charging fees to consumers
(1) An accredited ADR provider must not charge the consumer a fee in respect of ADR being carried out (or to be carried out) in relation to a…
- Section 295Exempt ADR providers
(1) In this Chapter— “exempt ADR provider” means a person who— (a) is listed (or of a description of persons listed) in Part 1 of Schedule 25 ,…
- Section 296Applications for accreditation or variation of accreditation
(1) A person who wishes to be an accredited ADR provider must— (a) apply to the Secretary of State for accreditation to enable the person to carry out…
- Section 297Determination of applications for accreditation or variation of accreditation
(1) This section applies where an application for accreditation, or for the variation of an accreditation, has been made to the Secretary of State (and has not been…
- Section 298Revocation or suspension of accreditations etc
(1) This section confers powers on the Secretary of State in relation to the accreditation of an accredited ADR provider. (2) The Secretary of State may, by notice…
- Section 299Fees payable by accredited ADR providers
(1) Accredited ADR providers must pay to the Secretary of State, at such times as may be prescribed, the appropriate prescribed fee (if any). (2) In subsection (1)…
- Section 300ADR fees regulations
(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about the following descriptions of fees, namely— (a) fees to be paid by applicants for accreditation under section…
- Section 301Accreditation criteria
(1) For the purposes of this Chapter the accreditation criteria are the criteria set out in Schedule 26 . (2) The Secretary of State may by regulations amend…
- Section 302Enforcement notices
(1) The Secretary of State may give an enforcement notice to an ADR provider if satisfied that the provider is contravening, or has contravened, any one or more…
- Section 303ADR information regulations
(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations require persons of a specified description (being persons within subsection (2) )— (a) to provide ADR information to the Secretary…
- Section 304ADR information directions
(1) The Secretary of State may give a direction to any person falling within subsection (2) requiring the person to provide ADR information to the Secretary of State.…
- Section 305Disclosure of ADR information by the Secretary of State
(1) This section applies to any ADR information relating to ADR providers which— (a) is provided to the Secretary of State in response to regulations under section 303…
- Section 306Meaning of “ADR information” and other terms in sections 303 to 305
(1) In sections 303 to 305 “ADR information” means any information about or relating to— (a) an ADR provider, (b) ADR carried out by an ADR provider, (c)…
- Section 307Power to provide for other persons to have accreditation functions etc
(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for or in connection with the conferring on another person of any function falling within subsection (2) so…
- Section 308Duty of trader to notify consumer of ADR arrangements etc
(1) This section applies where a trader responds to a complaint from a consumer in respect of any matters relating to a consumer contract between them. (2) In…
- Section 309Consequential amendments etc relating to this Chapter
Schedule 27 contains consequential amendments, repeals and revocations relating to this Chapter.
- Section 310Transitional provision relating to this Chapter
(1) The prohibition on carrying out ADR in section 293(1) does not apply to ADR carried out by an ADR provider in relation to a consumer contract dispute…
https://dmcca.digiphile.law/part/part-4-chapter-4.html
Text as at 7 October 2026.
This is an unofficial convenience version of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. It is presented “as is” without guarantee of accuracy, completeness or reliability. See the source text for the official version. This site was last updated in October 2026.