Enterprise Act 2002
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) was originally established by the Fair Trading Act in 1973. It has been reconstituted by the Enterprise Act 2002.
The OFT has a general duty to keep under review trading practices in the United Kingdom which may affect the economic interests of consumers. It has duties to publish information and advice for consumers. It also encourages trade associations to prepare codes of practice which help safeguard and promote the interests of consumers.
Under the Part 8 of the Enterprise Act, the Office of Fair Trading OFT and Northern Ireland Trading Standards Service have powers to take action against traders who continually break the law. If they can show that a trader has engaged in an unlawful course of conduct which is against the interests of consumers, they can then seek a written assurance from the trader that this conduct will stop or obtain an Order in the High Court to stop the practice. A trader who breaches a court order may be liable to a heavy fine, or even imprisonment.
