Consumer Rights Act 2015
2015 CHAPTER 15
Commentary on Sections
Part 2: Unfair Terms
What contracts and notices are covered by this Part?
Section 61: Contracts and notices covered by this Part
295.This section sets out the scope of Part 2 of the Act:
It covers contracts between a trader and a consumer. For ease of reference, trader to consumer contracts are called ‘consumer contracts’ in this Part.
Whilst Part 2 concerns contracts, it also includes consumer notices – both contractual and non-contractual consumer notices. A consumer notice includes an announcement or other communication which it is reasonable to assume is intended to be read by a consumer. Non-contractual consumer notices (e.g. a sign in a car park) do not include an exchange of something in return for something else of value (known as “consideration”) as a contract does.
This Part does not cover employment contacts, as they are regulated by specific employment legislation.
296.This Part covers terms in End User Licence Agreements to the extent that they are either consumer contracts or consumer notices. Research(33) suggests that some End User Licence Agreements, for example those known as “click-wrap licences”, which the consumer must explicitly agree to before they are able to download digital content, may have contractual status. Consumer contracts are subject to the provisions of Part 2 and if they contain terms listed in Schedule 2, those terms are assessable for fairness. Other types of End User Licence Agreements, such as those known as “shrink-wrap” or “browse-wrap” licences, may not have contractual status but may alternatively be consumer notices, and therefore also be subject to the provisions in Part 2. End User Licence Agreements may also set out for the consumer legal provisions in other pieces of legislation, such as those in relation to intellectual property. Section 73 makes clear that the Act’s unfair terms provisions do not override legal requirements in other legislation, therefore if a term reflects other law, then it will be exempt from the provisions in Part 2.
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