A survey of the alternative methods for the resolution of consumer disputes in England and Wales

Burbidge, P.K. 2008. A survey of the alternative methods for the resolution of consumer disputes in England and Wales. 12th International Conference on Consumer Law. Nalsar University, Hyderabad, India 25 - 27 Feb 2009

TitleA survey of the alternative methods for the resolution of consumer disputes in England and Wales
AuthorsBurbidge, P.K.
TypeConference paper
Abstract

English consumer law is composed of a combination of common law rules of contract overlaid with statutory rules for the protection of the consumer. The legislation however is strongly influenced by EU harmonising directives which seek in this area to create a level playing field for consumers in what should be a single market of 27 different EU states. In principle these quasi-federal consumer rights should ensure that the consumer is just as happy to buy his goods and services in other EU countries because the protection should be broadly the same. However the cross-border shopper is hindered by the difficulties in enforcing his rights when he may have to do this in a foreign legal system and in a foreign language. The existing rules in the Rome Convention 1980 about the applicable law and in the Brussels Regulation 44/2001 on Jurisdiction and Enforcement of Judgments do give some advantages to the consumer. If targeted in some way by the supplier in his own country the consumer will be able to rely on his domestic consumer protection rules and take the matter to his domestic courts. However in most cases it will be too expensive and time consuming to take the matter to the courts so that inevitably pressure has begun to mount for the search for alternative ways of resolving disputes. Indeed the commission has long since promoted ADR as the best form of cross-border resolution. This paper concentrates on the English domestic forms of ADR but also keeps one eye on Europe to identify certain contrasts with ADR elsewhere.

KeywordsAlternative dispute resolution, consumer disputes, cross-border shopper
Year2008
Conference12th International Conference on Consumer Law
Publication dates
Completed2008

Related outputs

What’s the point of a national law society? A case study from Colombia
Burbidge, P.K. 2012. What’s the point of a national law society? A case study from Colombia. University of Westminster.

Black holes at the heart of European contract law? Exclusion clauses in international supply contracts under sections 26 and 27 unfair contract terms act 1977
Burbidge, P.K. 2012. Black holes at the heart of European contract law? Exclusion clauses in international supply contracts under sections 26 and 27 unfair contract terms act 1977. International Company and Commercial Law Review. 23 (3), pp. 105-116.

Waking the dead of the Spanish Civil War: Judge Baltasar Garzon and the Spanish law of historical memory
Burbidge, P.K. 2011. Waking the dead of the Spanish Civil War: Judge Baltasar Garzon and the Spanish law of historical memory. Journal of International Criminal Justice. 9 (3), pp. 753-781. https://doi.org/10.1093/jicj/mqr027

Le regard de non-executive directors sur leur mission: synthese d'une enquete en Angleterre
Burbidge, P.K. 2009. Le regard de non-executive directors sur leur mission: synthese d'une enquete en Angleterre. in: Sorbonne, Y.C. (ed.) La direction des Societes Anonymes en Europe: Vers des pratiques harmonisées de gouvernance? LexisNexis Litec Publishers. pp. 457-477

Le dirigeant de Public Limited Company et de Private Limited Company en Angleterre
Burbidge, P.K. 2009. Le dirigeant de Public Limited Company et de Private Limited Company en Angleterre. in: Sorbonne, Y.C. (ed.) La direction des Societes Anonymes en Europe: Vers des pratiques harmonisées de gouvernance? LexisNexis Litec Publishers. pp. 55-96

Contribution to la gouvernance dans les sociétés anonymes: un bouclier pour les dirigeants?
Burbidge, P.K. 2009. Contribution to la gouvernance dans les sociétés anonymes: un bouclier pour les dirigeants? Lamy Droit des Affaires supplement.

United Kingdom
Burbidge, P.K. 2008. United Kingdom. in: Maul, S., Muffat-Jeandet, D. and Simon, J. (ed.) Takeover bids in Europe: the takeover directive and its implementation in the member states Freiburg Memento Verlag. pp. 571-604

Justice and peace? The role of law in resolving Colombia’s civil conflict
Burbidge, P.K. 2008. Justice and peace? The role of law in resolving Colombia’s civil conflict. International Criminal Law Review. 8 (3), pp. 557-587. https://doi.org/10.1163/157181208X308556

Gestione stragiudiziale delle controversie del consumatore in Inghilterra: Tracciati e soluzioni diverse
Burbidge, P.K. 2008. Gestione stragiudiziale delle controversie del consumatore in Inghilterra: Tracciati e soluzioni diverse. EU.

How can you be sure of Shell? Is corporate governance better served by unitary or two-tier boards?
Burbidge, P.K. 2005. How can you be sure of Shell? Is corporate governance better served by unitary or two-tier boards? International Energy: Law and Taxation Review. 9, pp. 291-299.

A French ABC of corporate crime? Abus de biens sociaux and elf affair (Part 2)
Burbidge, P.K. 2004. A French ABC of corporate crime? Abus de biens sociaux and elf affair (Part 2). International Company and Commercial Law Review. 15 (6), pp. 213-220.

A French ABC of corporate crime? Abus de biens sociaux and elf affair (Part 1)
Burbidge, P.K. 2004. A French ABC of corporate crime? Abus de biens sociaux and elf affair (Part 1). International Company and Commercial Law Review. 15 (6), pp. 180-187.

Creating high performance boardrooms and workplaces - European corporate governance in the 21st Century
Burbidge, P.K. 2003. Creating high performance boardrooms and workplaces - European corporate governance in the 21st Century. European Law Review. 28 (5), pp. 642-663.

Cross border insolvency within the European Union: dawn of a new era
Burbidge, P.K. 2002. Cross border insolvency within the European Union: dawn of a new era. European Law Review. 5, pp. 589-609.

Liability of Statutory Auditors to Third Parties: Is the European Writing on the Wall for Caparo v Dickman
Burbidge, P.K. 2002. Liability of Statutory Auditors to Third Parties: Is the European Writing on the Wall for Caparo v Dickman. Professional Negligence. 18 (1), pp. 40-66.

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/914q0/a-survey-of-the-alternative-methods-for-the-resolution-of-consumer-disputes-in-england-and-wales


Share this

Usage statistics

102 total views
0 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.