- Ban on concealed online fees
- Pricing transparency in groceries
- Digital Markets Bill proposals
The objective of the enforcement is to eradicate the practice of charging extra for items or services not bundled in the price of the headline, including airline luggage.
Substantial concealed fees imposed on online customers referred to as drip pricing, are to be prohibited as part of a broader initiative to promote transparency.
Under the proposed Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) stated that additional fees, which are only disclosed late in the checkout process and cost customers £2.2 billion annually, must be included in the advertised price.
The measure will have an impact on essential items such as movie and train tickets but will not apply to discretionary charges like airline seats and luggage enhancements.
In addition to including fake evaluations on a list of prohibited business practices, the crackdown will hold website hosts accountable for the content of their pages.
Additionally, new regulations on grocery pricing intend to clarify prices for consumers.
The proposals address unit pricing, such as the cost per kilogram, which must be displayed consistently across all price points, including discounted items, so that customers can determine whether they are receiving the best bargain.
Consumer groups and, more recently, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have contributed to their development.
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According to Kevin Hollinrake, the minister for enterprise, markets, and small business, contemporary shopping offers consumers an unprecedented array of options, spanning from physical supermarket shelves to digital baskets. However, this also increases the likelihood of public confusion, deception, and falling victim to pitfalls that can easily cost them more than anticipated.
The government is taking clear measures to ensure that consumers can easily compare purchases, are not duped by false reviews. and that hidden fees are eliminated, as evidenced by today’s announcement.
“It is encouraging to see the government moving forward with changes to combat behaviour that misleads shoppers or leaves them out of pocket,” said a spokesperson for the CMA, which would be responsible for enforcing the changes. “This includes accepting the CMA’s recommendations for clearer pricing on groceries.”
Enhanced legislation and instruments, such as the DMCC Bill’s provision granting the CMA the authority to levy fines on corporations found to violate consumer law, will supplement the ongoing efforts to safeguard the interests of consumers.
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