The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Alternative Dispute) Regulations 2026
Statutory instruments for Alternative Dispute Resolution regulations from the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
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Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is a way of resolving disputes between consumers and traders that does not involve going to court. The government wants to encourage the use of ADR. Better ADR and easier access to ADR is good for all businesses committed to giving their customers the best possible service.
Common forms of ADR are:
- mediation – where an independent third party helps the disputing parties to come to a mutually acceptable outcome
- arbitration – where an independent third party considers the facts and takes a decision that’s often binding on one or both parties
Access to independent, reliable and trustworthy ADR underpins consumer confidence when engaging in markets and supports the government’s growth agenda. The reforms ensure consumers are able to resolve a dispute with a trader and enforce their consumer rights in a quick and cost-effective way, outside of the courts and by an independent third party when things do go wrong.
Consumers and businesses across the UK will shortly benefit from changes to ADR rules.
The statutory instruments (SI) are a group of instruments that implement Chapter 4, Part 4 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act 2024, replacing the voluntary ADR accreditation framework in the UK and introducing a mandatory accreditation framework for ADR providers for consumer contract disputes.
Consumers can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service for advice and guidance on their consumer rights and taking complaints forward.
A full list of ADR providers can be found on the Chartered Trading Standards Institute Website.