Website reviews

www.oft.gov.uk

Perhaps the Office of Fair Trading wants to be even-handed. So its site offers information for both consumers (what are their rights) and business (what are its duties: a somewhat longer menu…). The site was redesigned a few years ago. It is now adequate, but no more than that. But, mustn’t grumble. The main thing is that it works. Lots of useful material here whichever side of the fence you are on. The information for consumers includes the predictable range of leaflets advising consumers how not to get ripped off when shopping for computers, cars (and funerals…). Take advice and shop around and so on. There is also somewhat meatier stuff: for example an excellent section on unfair terms in consumer contracts. That section gives chapter and verse on the 1999 Regulations, links to copies of the Regulations and the Directive as well as hugely detailed guidance on the effect of the Regulations. The business information is pretty sober: a long list of legislation (such as the Fair Trading Act and the Consumer Credit Act) in a menu gives way to a fair amount of useful information on the content of the legislation. The site also carries electronic versions of its paper publications, news releases and the OFT publication scheme under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Oddly, no list of links.

Subjective Rating (where 5 is excellent and 1 is poor and no rating indicate that that category has not been assessed)

Usefulness 4/5

Site design 3/5

Updating frequency 4/5

www.tradingstandards.net

This month’s prize for longevity goes to this site. Established in April1996, and still updated! It’s not clear exactly who publishes the site but it appears to be someone or some body with a local authority trading standards connection.  There are four main areas of interest. The first is the moderated message/bulletin board. You need to register to use it but registration is free. Users of the board appear to use it to discuss legal and professional issues and queries. Second, there is a comprehensive list of consumer legislation divided into various categories. Where the legislation is fairly modern, there is a link to the HMSO site. Otherwise, there is a useful and very detailed summary of the legislation section by section, but without much by way of commentary. Third, there is a news section, not unfortunately particularly up to date. Finally, there is a good set of link to other sites with some connection to consumer issues (and quite a few without).

Usefulness 3/5

Site design 3/5

Updating frequency 2/5

www.tradingstandards.gov.uk

This neat site is perhaps a rival, or complement to, the site above. As the name suggests, it is the official site for trading standards. The site is called Trading Standards Central and the theme is carried through to the imaginative site design which adds a wee bit of cheer. It carries lots of guidance leaflets in plain English on various aspects of consumer law. Refreshingly, the authors of the site recognise that the law is not identical in all parts of the UK, so “guidance leaflets” for business and “advice leaflets” for consumers are marked: ‘Eng Cym’; ‘Eng’; ‘Scot’; ‘NI’ (but never ‘Cym’ alone). There is a list of legislation falling under the purview of the Trading Standards Departments (again distinguishing between the “nations”); a section for schools (projects, prizes, competitions and information) and another on the European angle.

Usefulness 4/5

Site design 4/5

Updating frequency 4/5

www.legal500.com/devs/uk/frame/csframe.htm

This is a wee collection of short case-notes on consumer law issues. Each note comments on a recent case, summarises it and gives full citation of cases. They are provided by Gough Square Chambers under the aegis of the Legal 500 website. Would be useful to dip into from time to time if you want to keep up to date with developments in this area. Alternatively, it might be worth looking into for information on fairly recent consumer case law. The archive goes back to 1997 and is easily searchable.

Usefulness 3/5

Site design 2/5

Updating frequency 3/5

http://europa.eu.int/scadplus/leg/en/s16000.htm

Not a sight for the faint-hearted: at first glance, it looks dull. Do a double take: it looks duller. But do not adjust your monitor. This site as it’s meant to be; all roughage and no fun.  Meat and drink then to the euro-consumer-enthusiast, or possibly a student doing an extended essay. Here one finds, category by category, a list of EU legislation (possibly comprehensive) affecting the consumer interest, together with full references and a detailed summary of the content of the legislation. Also included is the implementation date and full references to follow-up work. Unfortunately, and unaccountably, there are very few links to the texts of the legislation and associated documents. No doubt it is more interesting tracking down the legislation elsewhere. Nae fun, but surely essential to someone or other…For a broader European view, go to the main part of the europa site at http://europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/index_en.html for a huge selection of topics concerning the consumer and business interest in the context of EU law and policy.

Usefulness 3/5

Site design 1/5

Updating frequency 3/5