Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13) – Part 4 – Consumer rights and disputes

Parts

Part 4Consumer rights and disputes

Chapter 1 – Protection from unfair trading

Section 224Overview
(1) This Chapter confers protections on consumers from unfair commercial practices. (2) Section 225 sets out what are unfair commercial practices and prohibits the use and promotion of…
Section 225Prohibition of unfair commercial practices
(1) Unfair commercial practices are prohibited. (2) The promotion of unfair commercial practices in, or in connection with, a code of conduct by— (a) a person responsible for…
Section 226Misleading actions
(1) For the purposes of this Chapter, a commercial practice involves a misleading action if the practice involves— (a) the provision of false or misleading information relating to…
Section 227Misleading omissions
(1) For the purposes of this Chapter, a commercial practice involves a misleading omission if, considering the matters mentioned in subsection (3) , the practice— (a) omits material…
Section 228Aggressive practices
(1) For the purposes of this Chapter, a commercial practice involves an aggressive practice if it uses harassment, coercion or undue influence. (2) In determining whether a commercial…
Section 229Contravention of the requirements of professional diligence
For the purposes of this Chapter, a commercial practice involves a contravention of the requirements of professional diligence if the practice falls short of the standard of skill…
Section 230Omission of material information from invitation to purchase
(1) For the purposes of this Chapter, a commercial practice which is an invitation to purchase omits material information if, considering the matters mentioned in subsection (8) ,…
Section 231Public enforcement
(1) It is the duty of every local weights and measures authority in Great Britain to enforce in its area the prohibitions in section 225 . (2) It…
Section 232Rights of redress
(1) A consumer has rights of redress under this Chapter if each of the following four conditions is met. (2) The first condition is that— (a) the consumer…
Section 233Rights of redress: further provision
(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations provide for any of the following descriptions of rights to be exercisable by a consumer who has rights of redress…
Section 234Enforcement of rights of redress
(1) A consumer with a right to unwind, a right to a discount or a right to damages by virtue of regulations under section 233 may bring a…
Section 235Relationship between rights of redress and other claims relating to prohibited practices
(1) Nothing in this Chapter affects the ability of a consumer to make a claim under a rule of law or equity, or under an enactment, in respect…
Section 236Inertia selling
(1) This section applies where a trader engages in the unfair commercial practice described at paragraph 31 of Schedule 20 . (2) The consumer is exempted from any…
Section 237Offences
(1) A trader commits an offence if, in breach of section 225(1) , the trader engages in an unfair commercial practice which involves a misleading action within section…
Section 238Defence of due diligence and innocent publication
(1) It is a defence for a person (“the defendant”) charged with an offence under subsection (1) , (2) , (3) , (6) or (7) of section 237…
Section 239Offences: criminal liability of others
(1) Subsections (2) and (3) apply where a trader— (a) commits an offence under subsection (1) , (2) , (3) , (6) or (7) of section 237 ,…
Section 240Penalty for offences
A person guilty of an offence under section 237 is liable— (a) on summary conviction in England and Wales, to a fine; (b) on summary conviction in Scotland…
Section 241Time limit for prosecution
(1) No proceedings for an offence under section 237 may be commenced after the earlier of— (a) the end of the period of 3 years beginning with the…
Section 242Powers to amend this Chapter
(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations amend Schedule 20 (commercial practices which are in all circumstances considered unfair) so as to— (a) add a description of…
Section 243Crown application
(1) Subject to subsection (2) , this Chapter binds the Crown. (2) The Crown is not criminally liable as a result of anything in this Chapter. (3) Subsection…
Section 244Validity of agreements
Except as resulting from a consumer’s rights of redress under this Chapter, a contract or any other agreement is not void or unenforceable by reason only of a…
Section 245Meaning of “transactional decision”
In this Chapter, “transactional decision” means any decision made by a consumer relating to— (a) the purchase or supply of a product (including whether, how or on what…
Section 246Meaning of “average consumer”: general
(1) This section provides for how references to the average consumer are to be read for the purposes of this Chapter. (2) The average consumer is— (a) reasonably…
Section 247Meaning of “average consumer”: vulnerable persons
(1) Subsection (2) applies where a group of consumers is particularly vulnerable to a commercial practice in a way that the trader could reasonably be expected to foresee.…
Section 248Meaning of “product”
(1) In this Chapter, “product” means— (a) goods; (b) a service; (c) digital content. (2) For the purposes of this Chapter, a trader agreeing to the full or…
Section 249General interpretation
In this Chapter— “business” includes— (a) a trade, craft or profession, (b) any other undertaking carried on for gain or reward, and (c) the activities of any government…
Section 250Index of defined terms
In this Chapter, the expressions listed in the left-hand column have the meaning given by, or are to be interpreted in accordance with, the provisions listed in the…
Section 251Consequential amendments relating to this Chapter
(1) The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 ( S.I. 2008/1277 ) are revoked. (2) Schedule 21 contains further consequential amendments relating to this Chapter.
Section 252Transitional and saving provision relating to this Chapter
(1) This Chapter applies only in relation to an act or omission which takes place on or after the commencement date. (2) The CPUTR 2008 continue to have…

Chapter 2 – Subscription contracts

Section 253Overview
(1) This Chapter— (a) imposes duties on traders in relation to subscription contracts, (b) provides rights for consumers if those duties are breached, and (c) provides rights for…
Section 254Meaning of “subscription contract”
(1) For the purposes of this Chapter, a subscription contract is a contract between a trader and a consumer— (a) for the supply of goods, services or digital…
Section 255Excluded contracts
(1) A contract is an excluded contract for the purposes of this Chapter if, and to the extent that, it is of a description set out in Schedule…
Section 256Pre-contract information
(1) Before a trader enters into a subscription contract with a consumer, the trader must— (a) give to the consumer the information set out in Part 1 of…
Section 257Pre-contract information: additional requirements
(1) Subsections (2) and (3) apply in relation to a subscription contract entered into online. (2) The trader must ensure that the final step which the consumer is…
Section 258Reminder notices
(1) Where a trader enters into a subscription contract with a consumer that does not include a concessionary period, the trader must give to the consumer a notice…
Section 259Content and timing etc of reminder notices
(1) A reminder notice must contain— (a) the information set out in Part 3 of Schedule 23 , and (b) any other information required by regulations under section…
Section 260Arrangements for consumers to exercise right to end contract
(1) A trader must make arrangements to enable a consumer to exercise a right to bring a subscription contract to an end— (a) in a way which is…
Section 261Duties of trader on cancellation or end of subscription contract
(1) This section applies where a consumer— (a) has exercised a right under this Chapter to cancel a subscription contract, or (b) has exercised a right to bring…
Section 262Terms implied into contracts
A trader’s compliance with the following duties is an implied term in every subscription contract— (a) the duty set out in section 256(1) (a) (key pre-contract information); (b)…
Section 263Right to cancel for breach of implied term
(1) This section applies where a trader is in breach of the term implied into a subscription contract by section 262 (a), (c), (d) or (e). (2) The…
Section 264Right to cancel during cooling-off periods
(1) A consumer has the right to cancel a subscription contract during— (a) the initial cooling-off period, and (b) any renewal cooling-off period. (2) The right conferred by…
Section 265Meaning of “initial cooling-off period” and “renewal cooling-off period”
(1) In this Chapter, the “initial cooling-off period”, in relation to a subscription contract, means the period— (a) beginning with the day the contract is entered into, and…
Section 266Cooling-off notice
(1) In relation to each renewal cooling-off period, a trader must give the consumer a notice (referred to in this Chapter as a “cooling-off notice”). (2) A cooling-off…
Section 267Cancellation of subscription contract: further provision
(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision— (a) about the exercise of the rights of a consumer to cancel a subscription contract under this Chapter;…
Section 268Offence of failing to provide information about initial cooling-off rights
(1) A trader commits an offence if the trader— (a) enters into an off-premises subscription contract, and (b) fails to— (i) give the consumer the information listed in…
Section 269Defence of due diligence
(1) It is a defence for a person (“the defendant”) charged with an offence under section 268(1) to prove— (a) that the commission of the offence was due…
Section 270Offences by officers of a body corporate etc
(1) If an offence under section 268(1) committed by a body corporate is proved— (a) to have been committed with the consent or connivance of an officer of…
Section 271Penalty for offence and enforcement
(1) A person who is guilty of an offence under section 268(1) is liable— (a) on summary conviction in England Wales, to a fine; (b) on summary conviction…
Section 272Information and notices: timing and burden of proof
(1) This section applies for the purposes of this Chapter. (2) Where a trader gives any information or notice under this Chapter by email, by a message sent…
Section 273Terms of a subscription contract which are of no effect
(1) Any term of a subscription contract that is in contravention of this Chapter is, to that extent, of no effect (including any term that seeks to exclude…
Section 274Other remedies for breach by trader
(1) Nothing in this Chapter is to be taken as limiting the taking of any other remedies available to a consumer for breach of any term (whether express,…
Section 275Application of this Chapter
(1) Subsection (2) applies if— (a) the law of a country or territory other than the United Kingdom or any part of the United Kingdom is chosen by…
Section 276Crown application
(1) Subject to subsection (2) , this Chapter binds the Crown. (2) The Crown is not criminally liable as a result of anything in this Chapter. (3) Subsection…
Section 277Power to make further provision in connection with this Chapter
(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision— (a) about how and when information or a notice that a trader is required to give to a…
Section 278Consequential amendments to the Consumer Rights Act 2015
(1) CRA 2015 is amended as follows. (2) In section 11 (goods to be as described)— (a) in subsection (4), after “( SI 2013/3134 )” insert “, or…
Section 279Other consequential amendments
(1) In Schedule 3 to the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008 , at the appropriate place insert— “ Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, Chapter 2…
Section 280Interpretation
(1) In this Chapter— “business” includes— (a) a trade, craft or profession, (b) any other undertaking carried on for gain or reward, and (c) the activities of any…
Section 281Index of defined expressions
In this Part, the expressions listed in the left-hand column have the meaning given by, or are to be interpreted in accordance with, the provisions listed in the…

Chapter 3 – Consumer Savings Schemes

Section 282Meaning of “consumer savings scheme contract”
(1) For the purposes of this Chapter, a consumer savings scheme contract is a contract— (a) under which— (i) a consumer makes payments to a trader, (ii) the…
Section 283Other defined terms
(1) In this Chapter, references to a trader operating a consumer savings scheme are references to a trader entering into a consumer savings scheme contract. (2) For the…
Section 284Excluded arrangements
(1) An arrangement is an excluded arrangement for the purposes of this Chapter if it is of a description set out in Schedule 24 . (2) The Secretary…
Section 285Insolvency protection requirement
(1) A trader operating a consumer savings scheme must make and maintain the arrangements set out in section 286 (insurance arrangements) or in section 287 (trust arrangements) to…
Section 286Insurance arrangements
(1) Where a trader relies on arrangements under this section for the purpose of satisfying section 285 , the trader must maintain insurance under one or more appropriate…
Section 287Trust arrangements
(1) Where a trader relies on arrangements under this section for the purpose of satisfying section 285 , the trader must ensure that all payments made by a…
Section 288Information requirements
(1) A trader must, before the end of 30 working days beginning with the day on which a consumer makes the first payment to the trader under a…
Section 289Consequential amendments
(1) In Schedule 3 to the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008 (enactments specified for the purposes of Part 1 ), at the appropriate place insert— “ “Digital…
Section 290Interpretation
In this Chapter— “business” includes— (a) a trade, craft or profession, and (b) any other undertaking carried on for gain or reward, but does not include the activities…

Chapter 4 – Alternative 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.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.