Our view of:
Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations
2008
Please visit these sites below for a definitive source of information
http://www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/small_businesses/competing/protection
http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/cpregs/oft1008.pdf
If money changes hands it is probably a contract between you and the person
who has paid the money or goods and therefore you will fall under the new Consumer
Protection Regulations.
In brief this means you have to deliver exactly what you say you will and not treat customers unfairly. Most of this is little more than common sense and good trading practice, but some of it requires careful scrutiny.
Individual Trading Standards Offices will interpret the guidance as they see fit.
In the event of a complaint the outcome may well be overly influenced by the investigating individual's interpretation of these Regulations.
This is what http://www.theswa.org.uk/Public/Law.aspx has
to say
Many Spiritualist churches believe the new regulations will not affect
them because they work on donations. Providing they only hold their services
and do not hold any other events where they charge people then they are
right.
However, if they hold any other events where they do charge money they
will then come under the new regulations. These include, but are not limited
to, psychic Suppers, clairvoyant evenings, workshops or development groups
and Mind Body and Spirit Fairs where private readings are offered, even
if it is for charity.
If free healing is offered as part of the price of entrance then that
too may cause problems.
The following is an extract from one Trading Standards Officer's interpretation
of the new legislation: By using the words heal or healer you are suggesting
that you can cure, this is not an acceptable term within the new legislation
unless you can give proof of such claims.
Anecdotal evidence on your abilities is now not enough, you will need to be able to justify any claim you are making.
So whatever you practice, it will be worth your while to make a study of this legislation. A number of the practices we cover use the word heal. If you practice one of these be sure that make clear to your clients what you mean. Believing you can do something is one thing to provide and demonstrate it empirically is quite another.