Sound Advice - noise at work in music and entertainment

A new website has been launched giving advice on protecting your hearing for anyone working in the music industry.

New rights for agency workers

A new European Directive was agreed to this week, which will ensure agency workers get equal treatment rights after they have worked on the same assignment for 12 weeks.

New protection for homeowners

New rules protect you if you are facing losing your home because you cannot make your mortgage repayments.

Booking your holiday? Do your homework!

Before you book your winter break or next year’s summer holiday, Consumer Direct is advising you to do your homework! The level of protection you get depends on the type of holiday you buy, how you pay for it and the terms of your travel policy.

Doorstep selling rights

From this month you will have seven days to change your mind if you buy something from a salesperson who visits your home.

New consumer champion – Consumer Focus

From 1 October there will be a new consumer champion to fight for the rights of consumers, Consumer Focus.

Compensation for sofa rashes and burns

The latest legal step in the sofa burns case took place at the Royal Courts of Justice in London this week.

XL Leisure collapse: what are my rights?

What are my rights if I have been affected by the collapse of XL Leisure?

Unfair discrimination by estate agent

A Bury St Edmonds estate agent has paid out compensation in one of the first cases of sexual-orientation discrimination against consumers.

Is your will up-to-date?

Thousands of people risk leaving their loved ones with nothing if they die because they don’t know what’s in their own will.

Warning about dangers of carbon monoxide

The body responsible for enforcing health and safety laws is highlighting the dangers of carbon monoxide gas following the death of a six-year old girl who was poisoned by fumes from a faulty boiler.

Consumers protected by new laws

For the first time a catch-all duty for businesses not to trade unfairly will ensure consumers are protected against all dodgy traders.

Banks lose overdraft charges court case

The UK's biggest banks lost a test case about overdraft charges. This means consumers are one step closer to being able to reclaim millions of pounds worth of bank charges.

Equal treatment for disabled people

A new fact sheet on your rights when accessing goods and services has been posted on Your Legal Rights.

An end to dodgy bailiffs

The government moved this week to protect people from dodgy bailiffs in England and Wales.

Minister says consumers the driving force behind legal reform

In an interview for Your Legal Rights, justice minister Bridget Prentice MP, explains how the aim of Legal Services Act is to ensure consumers are the driving force behind legal services.

New year, new job?

If you've made a new year's resolution to get a new job in 2008, make sure you get all the job benefits you're entitled to.

Unwanted Christmas gift? Call Consumer Direct

Contrary to popular belief, you don't automatically have the right to return unwanted Christmas gifts and claim a refund.

Think carefully before buying extended warranties this Christmas

Twelve top shopping tips for Christmas

With the Christmas shopping season well under way, Consumer Direct has put together 12 top shopping tips for Christmas to help you avoid problems and get the best deal.

Consumers let down by solicitors

Consumers don't think solicitors are properly regulated and don't know were to turn when things go wrong.

Working more hours in the UK

We are working more hours than ever according to the TUC - more than one in eight of us work more than 48 hours each week. The law protects us from working such long hours, unless we opt out. But because the law is rarely enforced, bad employers know they can ignore it without risking any consequences.

Community Legal Advice

The national legal aid telephone helpline has changed its name from Community Legal Service Direct to Community Legal Advice.

Top tips for shopping online

About 14 million of us will shop online for Christmas presents this year, but how much do you know about your rights?

Mark Stobbs, Director of the Bar Standards Board

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) was set up in 2006 to regulate all barristers in England and Wales. Previously the Bar Council was responsible for both the regulation and representation of barristers.

Professor Shamit Saggar, The Legal Complaints Service (LCS)

The Legal Complaints Service (LCS) is an independent complaints-handling body. It was set up in January 2006 when the Law Society separated representation, regulation and complaints handling. Previously the LCS was known as the Consumer Complaints Service and before that as the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors.

David Fisher, AXA insurance and Helen Merfield, rehabilitation expert

If you have been injured in an accident, your main concern is likely to be getting better as quickly as possible. But how do you go about this? Do you just go along to your GP?

Oliver Heald, shadow secretary of state for constitutional affairs

The Legal Services Bill going through Parliament will set up a new Legal Services Board to oversee the regulation of lawyers and a new independent legal complaints service. It will also change the way legal firms are allowed to operate, meaning organisations like banks or supermarkets could provide legal services in future.

Mark Boleat, claims management regulator at the Ministry of Justice

Claims managers either act for claimants or as an intermediary between claimants and lawyers. They work in a number areas including personal injury, financial mis-selling (such as endowments), employment, housing disrepair or criminal injuries compensation.

Peter Williamson, chair of the Solicitors Regulation Authority

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) was set up in 2006 to regulate all solicitors in England and Wales. Previously the Law Society was responsible for both the regulation and representation of solicitors.

Justin Jacobs, assistant director at the Association of British Insurers

There is a lot of debate at the moment about the "compensation culture" with many complaining we now live in a society where people are encouraged to "have a go".

Lord Whitty, chair of the National Consumer Council

For a long time consumers have suffered from poor customer service and poor value for money from lawyers - last year there was the equivalent of one complaint for every six solicitors. The government has proposed reforms that should make a difference.

Desmond Hudson, chief executive of The Law Society

The Law Society was set up in 1823. Until 2006, it was responsible for both representing and regulating solicitors. Following an independent review of the legal professions by Sir David Clementi in 2004, the two roles were split.

CEO of the Law Society talks to Your Legal Rights

Des Hudson, the chief executive of the Law Society, says all consumers should be able to get independent and professional advice from their solicitor and be kept fully up to date with the progress of their case.

RJW launches Your Legal Rights, a free legal information website for consumers

National law firm, Russell Jones & Walker, today launched its consumer-facing website providing free legal information for consumers. The initiative is a direct response to the Government's challenge to make legal services more accessible to the general public.

Key facts about home information packs now on Your Legal Rights

From 10 September 2007, all homes on the market with three or more bedrooms will need a home information pack (HIP). An up-to-date fact sheet and downloadable podcast with all the key facts about HIPs are now on Your Legal Rights.