Practical examples of types of business affected by the Consumer Contracts Regulations

Article reference: UK-IA-SGA34
Last updated: August 2022 | 2 min read

About this series of articles

This article is one in a series about the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, often abbreviated to CC (ICAC). The series explains the law, and how to apply it to your business so that you remain compliant.

The Regulations have significantly affected the way goods and services, including digital content, are sold to consumers. So that you can comply, after identifying how your contracts are formed, you should consider what types of products or services you sell, because the regulations apply differently to different types.

Goods, including goods and services sold as a package

This includes contracts for the sale of goods and also for the supply of goods and services together. This will therefore include the sale of:

  • a book, footwear, home wares etc
  • a film on a DVD
  • software on a disc
  • garden work where the service includes the supply of goods like plants or pavings
  • supply of gas and electricity in small quantities - for example, batteries and gas in containers

Service contracts

This covers contracts that are for services only - for example, the services of:

  • a personal trainer
  • a lawyer
  • a wedding planner
  • an estate agent
  • a psychologist
  • gas and electricity by the utility suppliers not in limited amount

The Regulations have affected services at large in so far as immediate commencement and cancellation are concerned. So if you are a similar service provider, you need to investigate how the Consumer Contracts Regulations affect your business.

You might be interested to read more about service provider obligations.

Digital content

This term has been introduced to consumer law for the first time. The Regulations define the term as: 'the supply of data through an intangible medium' - for example:

  • music
  • games
  • software, including apps
  • downloads or streamed films

The Regulations have placed digital content in a separate category with its own specific compliance requirements. Of course they are similar to the requirements for other products, but still require your careful attention.

Find out more about selling digital and downloaded content to consumers.

Further information

We recommend that you read about customer cancellation rights next.

If you haven’t already read it, you might also be interested to read about whether your contracts are likely to be classed as on-premises, off-premises or distance.

Unless you are exempt from the Regulations or are already compliant, you are likely to need to update your customer contract templates. These are likely to include your website's terms if you sell online and your offline customer contract if you sell offline.

If you have any questions about the Consumer Contract Regulations 2013, or would like help updating your contracts to comply, please ask us. We’d be delighted to help.

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