Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD has announced that consumer law is set to be completely overhauled.
Speaking at the launch of a report by the Sales Law Review Group on legislation governing the sale of goods and supply of services, the Minister said that the four acts and five pieces of legislation which currently relate to consumer transactions will be consolidated into one.
The changes are envisaged to take effect over the next year.
Excessive payment fees or additional charges on consumers by means of ‘pre-ticked boxes’ will be banned while there will now be specific regulations on ‘small print’ such as minimum sizing and text colour.
Other laws will include: A requirement that receipts be issued in consumer transactions; consumers would have the right to reject faulty goods within 30 days, replacing the complex and uncertain rules that currently apply; a rule that goods must be of satisfactory quality; significant pro-consumer improvements in laws relating to services; improvements in the rules governing distance and off-premises selling. These will apply most notably to internet purchases, and will include an increase from 7 to 14 days in the time period in which consumers can withdraw from a contract.