Understanding the laws that affect you is an important part of running a successful business. This section is a quick guide to the main rules covering how you sell, how you treat your customers and how you compete.
Advice and resources
Publications
The OFT publishes a range of leaflets for consumers, advisers, businesses and the professions. It also publishes a number of reports, including consultation papers and research findings.
Choice and Competition in Public Service Markets - a guide for policy makers (March 2010)
- oft1214 (pdf 658 kb) 19 March 2010
Choice and Competition in Public Service Markets - case studies (March 2010)
- oft1214case (pdf 1.34 mb) 19 March 2010
The role and powers of the Consumer Advocate
- OFT1212resp The role and powers of the Consumer Advocate (pdf 441 kb) 8 March 2010
Using a commercial debt management service? (January 2010)
- OFT1048 - Using a commercial debt management service (pdf 228 kb) 9 February 2010
Resource base
Our resource base provides you with detailed information about most aspects of the OFT's work.
Business
Estate Agents Public Register
The Estate Agents Public Register provides details of estate agents who are currently banned from engaging in estate agency work or who have received a formal warning under the Estate Agents Act 1979.
Estate Agents Redress Schemes
The Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 enables the Secretary of State to require those engaging in estate agency work in relation to residential property to be members of an OFT approved estate agents redress scheme.
Mergers
Details of the OFT's mergers work, including invitations to comment, decisions, undertakings and orders.
Super-complaints
Details of the OFT's response to the super-complaints that it has received.
Consumer
Consumer credit licences
Most businesses that offer credit or lend money to consumers have to be licensed by the OFT - find out what kind of businesses need a credit licence and how to apply for one.
Consumer regulations
The consumer regulations area contains general information about the application and enforcement of Part 8 of the EA 2002 and the legislation covered by Part 8 EA 2002. It provides guidance to help businesses comply and information for business and consumers about the outcome of formal and informal action already completed.
Find a business in your area
Details for businesses on how to register with the OFT Approved codes of practice scheme.
Legal
Cartels
Find out what constitutes a cartel, how to complain about one, and how a business could be granted immunity from prosecution if they inform the OFT of their involvement.
Competition Act investigations
Information on Competition Act investigation, decisions, consultations and case closure summaries.
Consultations
The OFT carries out consultations on a number of issues - current consultations are detailed in this section.
Guidelines for policy makers
Competition assessment guidance for policy makers carrying out Regulatory Impact Assessments.
Legal powers
This section explains some of the most important powers the OFT has that enable it to carry out its aim of making markets work well for consumers.
Register of Orders and Undertakings
The Register publishes current orders made and undertakings given under the market investigations and mergers provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002, and the monopoly and mergers provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973.
UK competition court cases database
These pages are a legal resource listing brief details of competition law judgments given in the UK courts that are brought to the attention of the OFT.
Research
EC Articles 84 and 85 Public Register
Consultations, notifications and decisions relating to EC Articles 84 and 85.
Economic research
Details of reports published under the OFT's ongoing programme of economic research.
Evaluation
The OFT’s evaluation programme aims to evaluate whether the OFT delivers its objectives cost-effectively, and to help the OFT prioritise, conduct, and follow up its work to maximise its impact.
Market studies
Full details of market studies carried out by the OFT.
- OFT telephone enquiries:08457 22 44 99
- Consumer Direct telephone enquiries:08454 04 05 06