Guidance

Trader recommendation platforms: complying with consumer law

How to protect consumers and stay on the right side of consumer law.

Documents

Details

This guidance was published prior to the unfair commercial practices provisions of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCC Act) coming into force on 6 April 2025. These provisions contain broadly similar prohibitions against unfair and misleading commercial practices as under the previous legislation, the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs). More detail on the legislative differences between the DMCC Act and the CPRs is available in the technical note. For further guidance, read Unfair commercial practices

This guidance has not been updated since the DMCC Act provisions relating to unfair commercial practices came into effect. The relevant legislative changes are detailed throughout.  

If you run a trader recommendation platform, check the CMA’s guidance on fake review practices for more guidance in this area.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published compliance advice to help trader recommendation platforms comply with consumer protection law.

It covers:

  • advertising and marketing to consumers
  • vetting practices
  • complaints processes
  • monitoring activities
  • investigations
  • consumer reviews

We have also published a response to our consultation on the draft compliance advice.

Updates to this page

Published 12 November 2024

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