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UK Statutory Instrument
2015
United Kingdom
Repealed
Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
11 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide · 2 journeys
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Trader 5
- Any Person 1
Plus 5 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Start selling online - retail compliance
- 1 step
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Traders also bound by 826 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 413 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 243 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 114 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 62 duties
- Building Societies Act 1986 1986 56 duties
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1 — General
Review
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must review ADR regulations every five years Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Citation and commencement
“Consumer” and “trader”
“ ADR entity”
Other definitions
Interpretation
Contracts to which these Regulations do not apply
Part 2 — Competent Authorities and ADR Entities
Assessment of application to become an ADR entity
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Competent authority must assess and notify ADR applicant of decision Statutory regulator
Listing of ADR entities
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Competent authorities must maintain and share a list of approved ADR entities Statutory regulator
Ongoing information obligations of an ADR entity
- Publish annual activity reports and notify changes to your regulator Trader
Ongoing assessment of an ADR entity
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must review ADR entities to ensure ongoing compliance Statutory regulator
Removal of approval
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must notify ADR entities of potential approval removal Statutory regulator
The ADR entity’s duty to cooperate
- ADR entities must share best practices and cooperate with enforcers Trader
Notification of the consolidated ADR entity list
- ADR entities must provide links to the national list of ADR providers Trader
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Functions and designation of competent authorities
Fees payable to the Secretary of State
Consequential amendments
Agreement to submit disputes to an ADR entity
Binding outcome requirements
Consumer information regarding the ODR platform
Fees payable to the Financial Conduct Authority
Part 3 — Functions of the Secretary of State
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 4 — Trader information requirements
Consumer information by traders
- Provide ADR information on your website and in terms of business Trader
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Consumer information by online traders and online marketplaces regarding the ODR platform
Part 5 — Enterprise Act 2002
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Schedules
Requirements that a competent authority must be satisfied that the person meets
- Meet standards for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) entity approval Any Person
Information to be included in an ADR entity's annual activity report
- Publish an annual activity report if you are an ADR entity Trader
Browse 23 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Competent Authorities
Alternative dispute resolution services offered by the person
Paragraph 8 does not apply to the person in respect...
Legality
For the purposes of paragraph 11 “habitual residence” is be...
Grounds to refuse to deal with a dispute
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the “prescribed period” is 12...
The person ensures that its policy regarding when it will...
The decision in paragraph 13 can be made at any...
Where a person decides to refuse to deal with a...
Where, following the expiry of the period referred to in...
Compliance with the Online Dispute Resolution Regulation
Where the person agrees to deal with a dispute transmitted...
Where the person refuses to deal with a dispute transmitted...
Access to the ADR entity
Expertise, Independence and Impartiality
Conflict of interests procedure
Transparency
Effectiveness
Fairness
Subject to paragraphs 9 and 10, in relation to an...
Paragraphs 8(a) and 8(b) do not apply to the person...
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) providers (opens in a new tab) from Gambling Commission Detailed Guidance
- Redress schemes: approval criteria and applications | Ofgem (opens in a new tab) from Ofgem Detailed Guidance
- Alternative dispute resolution (opens in a new tab) from Ofcom Detailed Guidance
- ADR schemes' performance (opens in a new tab) from Ofcom Detailed Guidance
- Statement: Review of alternative dispute resolution schemes (opens in a new tab) from Ofcom Detailed Guidance
- Online Dispute Resolution platform (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Certified ADR providers (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- ADR for consumer disputes guidance (opens in a new tab) Publication
- CMA consumer enforcement (opens in a new tab) from CMA Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Competition and Markets Authority
Promotes competitive markets and tackles unfair behaviour. Investigates mergers, enforces competition law, and has specific digital markets powers. Digital Markets Unit (DMU) …
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.