Subjects:

Consumer Law

Contents:

Foreword

Lord Borrie of Abbots Morton. Introduction: Consumer Protection in Financial Services -- Putting the Law in Context

P. Cartwright. Part I: Themes and Trends in Financial Services.
1. The European Union, Financial Services and the Consumer

A. Morner.
2. The Ombudsmen and Consumer Protection

P. Morris, G. Little. Part II: Banking.
3. Bank Confidentiality and the Consumer in the United Kingdom

A. Campbell.
4. Unilateral Variation in Banking Contracts: An 'Unfair Term'? E. Lomnicka.
5. Deposit Guarantees and the Individual Bank Customer

P. Cartwright. Part III: Financial Services and Investments.
6. Financial Services Regulation: Can History Teach Us Anything? S. Chin.
7. Pensions and the Consumer: Lessons from Overseas

D. Harris, S. Jones.
8.. Some Consumer Problems Relating to the Sale of Long Term Insurance

R. Bragg. Part IV: Insurance.
9. Insurance Law Reform for the Benefit of the Consumer: Some Lessons from Australia

J. Birds.
10. Consumer Protection in Insurance Contracts

C. Willet, N. Hird. Part V: Consumer Credit.
11. Seeking Social Justice for Poor Consumers in Credit Markets

G. Howells.
12. Racial and Gender Equality in Markets for Financial Services

I. Ramsay, T. Williams. Index.

This text examines the role of the law in the protection of the consumer, in particular the ways in which the law is, and could be, used to protect consumers when purchasing financial services.

A prominent panel of contributors first examines the role of the European Union and the ombudsmen schemes operating in the United Kingdom in improving consumer protection. Eight expert papers present a detailed analysis of aspects of the various legal mechanisms protecting consumers in the banking, financial services, investments and insurance industries. The final part of the book is concerned with the important and controversial area of consumer credit.

This text should be of interest to those at the cutting edge of banking, financial services and consumer law, whether practicing lawyers or in-house counsel, and all those involved in advising consumers.