Consumer protection law in England and Wales exists to ensure you get what you pay for—and have legal recourse when things go wrong. Whether you've been sold a faulty product, experienced misleading advertising, or been treated unfairly by a business, the law is on your side. Consumer disputes are typically handled by the County Court for civil claims, while serious breaches may be prosecuted in the Magistrates' Court or Crown Court by Trading Standards. For certain industries, regulators like the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have powers to investigate and take action against businesses. The cornerstone legislation is the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which replaced several older laws and sets out your rights regarding goods, services, and digital content. The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 protect you when shopping online or at a distance, giving you cancellation rights. The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 tackles misleading practices and aggressive selling. Our consumer protection articles explain your rights when returning goods, dealing with rogue traders, disputing charges, or claiming compensation. We help you understand when informal resolution is possible and when it's time to escalate to court.