Consumer enforcement case archive

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Please find below a list of consumer enforcement case work carried out by the OFT in 2011.

• Investigation into the trading practices of MyCityDeal Limited (trading as Groupon UK)
  2 December 2011
• Adaptive Affinity: Investigation into alleged unfair practices by an online trader offering credit score and discount reward membership subscription schemes to consumers  
  October 2011
• CC Automotive Group Limited: Investigation into alleged unfair practices by a national second hand car dealer
  October 2011
• Investigation into the transparency of heating oil distributors websites
  9 September 2011
• Investigation into Ashbourne Management Services
  12 August 2011 
• Investigations into the deceptive online selling of government services
  July 2011
• Shop4Tek - Investigation into an online retailer relating to non-delivery of orders and failure to provide refunds
  23 June 2011   
• OFT secures enforcement orders against holiday club companies
  6 May 2011
• Investigation into alleged misconduct of Incentive Leisure Group Limited, Personal Travel Group Limited and other traders
  6 May 2011
• Investigations into unfair practices in the mobility aids sector
  April 2011
• We Buy Any Car investigation
  28 March 2011
• Investigation into an online retailer relating to non-delivery of orders and failure to provide refunds
  24 March 2011
• Investigation into bait advertising and unfair commercial practices in relation to an online sale
  10 March 2011
• Goldpost - Five investigations into the purchase of gold from consumers by post
  14 February 2011
• Investigation into an online retailer relating to non-delivery of orders and erroneous contact details
  8 February 2011
• Investigation into prize draw promoters
  2 February 2011
• OFT welcomes landmark High Court ruling on misleading promotions
  2 February 2011

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Please find below a list of consumer enforcement case work carried out by the OFT in 2010.

• OFT launches court action against three companies marketing or selling holiday clubs, and associated schemes 
  20 December 2010 
• Retirement Homes Investigation into exit fees
  17 December 2010
• Investigation into illegal use of automated bidding on a 'penny auction' website
  15 December 2010
• Investigation into the supply of software components that facilitate the illegal use of artificial bids on 'penny auction' websites
  15 December 2010
• Investigation into inadequate disclosures in respect of commercial blogging activity (Handpicked Media)
  13 December 2010
• OFT secures undertakings from several model agencies
  10 December 2010
• Investigation into the misleading online selling and non-provision of business networking services
  25 November 2010
• Investigation into alleged misconduct of certain traders claiming to be modelling and entertainment agencies
  24 November 2010  
• OFT secures undertakings from prize draw promoter
  21 October 2010
• OFT secures undertakings from prize draw promoters, McIntyre and Dodd Marketing Limited and Strike Lucky Games Limited
  12 October 2010
• Investigation into an online trader offering bogus investment opportunities
  25 September 2010
• Investigation into Friedrich Mueller prize draw mailings
  24 September 2010
• Investigations into the deceptive online selling of EHIC cards
  10 August 2010
• Investigation into sales of 2010 FIFA World Cup tickets by unauthorised traders
  22 July 2010
• OFT seeks court order against gym management company
  11 March 2010
• Foxtons
  22 February 2010
• OFT announces further criminal charges in suspected pyramid scheme case
  29 January 2010
• OFT seeks court order against prize draw promoters
  11 January 2010

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Please find below a list of press releases relating to consumer enforcement work carried out by the OFT in 2009.

• OFT announces decision and next steps on bank charges 
  22 December 2009
• Apple agrees to improve terms and conditions 
  27 November 2009
• OFT disappointed by Supreme Court judgment 
  25 November 2009
• OFT announces further criminal charges in suspected pyramid scheme case 
  13 November 2009
• Four firms give the OFT undertakings about selling gym membership 
  15 October 2009
• OFT announces criminal charges in suspected pyramid scheme case 
  2 October 2009
• Total Fitness revises membership agreements 
  2 September 2009
• Airline improves website pricing transparency 
  14 August 2009
• Sale and rent back firms change or remove advertising following OFT action 
  31 July 2009
• Burglar alarm sales company gives undertakings to the OFT 
  30 July 2009
• OFT bans Buckinghamshire estate agent 
  24 July 2009
• OFT announces clearer terms for ticket-buyers 
  22 July 2009
• OFT welcomes high court ruling on Foxtons' use of unfair terms 
  10 July 2009
• Ryanair improves the clarity of its website and advertising 
  3 July 2009
• Online discount scheme agrees to change sign up process 
  24 June 2009
• Solar heating company to improve practices after OFT intervention 
  23 June 2009
• Three arrests in suspected pyramid scheme investigation 
  29 April 2009
• OFT bans Croydon estate agent 
  27 April 2009
• Manchester United to revise season ticket terms 
  20 April 2009
• OFT welcomes Court of Appeal Judgment in Foxtons case on Unfair terms 
  2 April 2009
• OFT bans East Yorkshire estate agent 
  27 March 2009
• OFT bans East London estate agents 
  11 March 2009
• OFT welcomes Court of Appeal judgment 
  26 February 2009
  Prosecution of eleven individuals involved in an alleged unlawful pyramid scheme
  21 February 2009
• Retirement housing company agrees to change its lease agreements 
  14 January 2009

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Please find below a list of press releases relating to consumer enforcement work carried out by the OFT in 2008.

• Spurs agrees to change its ticketing terms for rescheduled fixtures 
  4 December 2008
• Following OFT action, Fitness First revises membership agreements 
  25 November 2008
• OFT stops misleading psychic adverts 
  13 Novemer 2008
• OFT action stops bogus racing tipster 
  3 November 2008
• OFT bans Lincolnshire estate agent 
  3 October 2008
• OFT bans Shropshire estate agents 
  17 September 2008
• OFT warns Surrey estate agent 
  15 September 2008
• Hampstead estate agents banned 
  18 August 2008
• OFT welcomes first use of new consumer legislation in court 
  4 August 2008
• OFT stops misleading anti-impotency mailings 
  28 July 2008
• OFT wins landmark Dutch court case 
  23 July 2008
• OFT stops misleading claims regarding 'fat burning beads' 
  15 July 2008
• Hertfordshire estate agent banned 
  20 June 2008
• OFT statement on Case Management Conference 
  23 May 2008
• Estate agent in Scotland banned 
  19 May 2008
• OFT welcomes High Court ruling on unarranged overdraft charges 
  24 April 2008
• OFT accepts undertakings from Micro Bill Systems Ltd 
  27 March 2008
• OFT stops South African marketer sending misleading mailings 
  18 March 2008
• OFT seeks court order against letting agent Foxtons 
  25 February 2008
• OFT bans Birmingham estate agent 
  20 February 2008
• OFT obtains injunction against bogus racing tipster 
  22 January 2008
• Fairer terms for holiday caravan owners 
  15 January 2008
• MB Designs (Scotland) Limited gives undertakings to the Court of Session in Scotland 
  11 January 2008
• West Midlands man banned from becoming an estate agent 
  9 January 2008

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Please find below a list of press releases relating to consumer enforcement work carried out by the OFT in 2007.

• East London estate agents banned 
  20 December 2007
• OFT takes action against promoter of 'fat burning' capsules 
  6 December 2007
• North London estate agent banned 
  3 December 2007
• OFT works with industry leader on revisions to prize draw promotions 
  27 November 2007
• OFT obtains undertakings from directors of solar water heating companies 
  29 October 2007
• OFT obtains injunction against prize draw promoters 
  15 October 2007
• OFT obtains assurances from South African prize draw promoter 
  11 October 2007
• OFT obtains undertakings from Belgian mail order company 
  26 September 2007
• OFT bans Bridlington estate agency and directors 
  18 September 2007
• Surrey estate agent banned 
  13 September 2007
• OFT makes Warning Order against Essex estate agent 
  12 September 2007
• OFT warns Manchester estate agent 
  28 August 2007
• OFT takes action against 13 airlines over misleading holiday pricing 
  9 August 2007
• OFT bans two East London estate agents 
  30 July 2007
• OFT secures prison sentence for rogue trader 
  17 July 2007
• OFT accepts undertakings from Book Club Associates 
  13 July 2007
• OFT obtains enforcement order against prize draw promoter 
  12 July 2007
• Fairer terms for online I.T. shoppers 
  5 July 2007
• Clearer and fairer terms for housing provider for elderly 
  29 June 2007
• OFT receives assurances from publishers of weight mailing 
  22 June 2007
• OFT acts against 'slimming capsule' advertisers 
  12 June 2007
• OFT receives assurances from publisher of 'charitable fund' mailing 
  14 May 2007
• West Midlands estate agent banned 
  20 April 2007
• OFT bans Cheshire estate agent 
  19 April 2007
• Clearer and fairer terms for hot air balloon flights 
  14 March 2007
• OFT bans Northern Ireland estate agent 
  12 March 2007
• OFT stops 'male enhancement' advert 
  9 March 2007
• OFT makes Warning Order against London estate agent 
  13 February 2007
• OFT lodges appeal against Dutch court ruling 
  17 January 2007
• OFT takes action and Magnopulse Limited agree to give undertakings 
  15 January 2007
• OFT takes action against 'miracle slimming chocolate' 
  12 January 2007

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Please find below a list of press releases relating to consumer enforcement work carried out by the OFT in 2006.

• Clearer contract terms for consumers selling homes through estate agents 
  21 November 2006
• Prize promoter gives undertakings to High Court 
  15 November 2006
• UK estate agent warned by OFT 
  7 November 2006
• Ryanair to give fairer contract terms 
  17 October 2006
• Internet car dealers give undertakings to the OFT 
  4 October 2006
• OFT bans Essex estate agent 
  22 September 2006
• OFT takes court action against mail order company in the Netherlands 
  20 September 2006
• Irish company stops running premium rate prize promotions 
  17 August 2006
• OFT secures changes to estate agent's contracts 
  18 July 2006
• Hertfordshire letting agent banned from estate agency work 
  17 July 2006
• Dell to improve terms and conditions for consumers 
  6 July 2006
• OFT stops misleading premium rate prize promotions 
  28 June 2006
• Slimming ads stopped after OFT action 
  22 June 2006
• Property investor gives undertakings to court 
  24 May 2006
• Misleading magnetic therapy claims stopped 
  28 April 2006
• Cold calling business directors give OFT undertakings 
  13 April 2006
• Tynemouth estate agents give undertakings to the OFT 
  11 April 2006
• OFT makes Warning Order against Newcastle estate agent 
  6 April 2006
• Clearer pricing information for online supermarket shoppers 
  16 March 2006
• OFT issues warning to former directors of inventions promotion company 
  8 March 2006
• OFT seeks court order against magnetic goods manufacturer 
  8 March 2006
• OFT stops misleading premium rate scratchcard promotion 
  1 March 2006
• St Helens Glass Ltd gives undertakings to the OFT 
  16 February 2006
• Clearer contract terms for consumers buying from home improvements specialists 
  26 January 2006
• Threatening and misleading 'clairvoyant' letter stopped 
  26 January 2006
• West Yorkshire estate agent gives undertakings to the OFT 
  12 January 2006
• OFT seeks court order against property investment business 
  5 January 2006