Quick guide

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What is a consumer code of practice?

A consumer code of practice can be defined as a set of rules that a group of businesses agree to follow in order to set higher standards of customer service. In most cases signing up to a code is voluntary. There is no legal requirement for an industry sector to operate a code or for a business to join up - unlike the codes of conduct some professions must follow.

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What can consumer codes do?

• deliver a higher level of consumer protection than the basics set down in law
• build on best practices within a sector
• react quickly to changes in market practices
• deliver commercial benefits to business

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What can't consumer codes do?

Be a substitute for regulation or effective enforcement

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Who is a code sponsor?

A code sponsor can be any body that administers voluntary business-to-consumer codes and can influence and raise standards within its sector. The Enterprise Act allows us to consider applications from a wide range of bodies.

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The Consumer Codes Approval Scheme

The OFT developed its scheme for approving and promoting business-to-consumer codes of practice in consultation with business and other stakeholders.

We aim to promote and safeguard consumers' interests by helping them identify better businesses. The scheme will encourage those businesses to raise their standards of customer service, bringing real commercial benefits.

A code sponsor must prove its code meets our criteria before we will approve it. Once we have approved a code, we will promote it to consumers.

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Where can I get more information?

You can download frequently asked questions in pdf format (92 kb).

A CCAS summary sheet about the scheme, who's taking part, their contact details and other consumer codes of practice can be downloaded in pdf format (84 kb).

For full details of the consumer approval codes scheme, you can also download our consultation document, our response, and guidance on the core criteria from the publications page.  

Back to: Approved codes