“Consumer”, “consumer matters” and “designated consumers”U.K.
3“Consumer” and “consumer matters”U.K.
(1)In this Part “consumer” and “consumer matters” have the meaning given by this section.
(2)“Consumer” means—
(a)a person who purchases, uses or receives, in Great Britain, goods or services which are supplied in the course of a business carried on by the person supplying or seeking to supply them, or
(b)a person who purchases, uses or receives [F1postal services ]in Northern Ireland.
(3)“Consumer” includes both an existing consumer and a future consumer.
(4)For the purposes of subsection (2)—
(a)a person who uses services includes, in relation to [F2postal services], an addressee;
(b)“goods” includes land or an interest in land;
(c)“business” includes a profession and the activities of any government department, local or public authority or other public body.
(5)“Consumer matters” means—
(a)the interests of consumers, and
(b)any matter connected with those interests.
Textual Amendments
F1 Words in s. 3(2)(b) substituted (1.10.2011) by Postal Services Act 2011 (c. 5) , s. 93(2) (3) , Sch. 12 para. 176 ; S.I. 2011/2329 , art. 3
F2 Words in s. 3(4)(a) substituted (1.10.2011) by Postal Services Act 2011 (c. 5) , s. 93(2) (3) , Sch. 12 para. 176 ; S.I. 2011/2329 , art. 3
Commencement Information
I1 S. 3 in force at 21.12.2007 by S.I. 2007/3546 , art. 3 , Sch.
4“Designated consumers”U.K.
(1)In this Part “designated consumers” means—
(a)consumers in relation to gas conveyed through pipes or electricity conveyed by distribution systems or transmission systems, and
(b)consumers in relation to [F3postal services].
(2)The Secretary of State may, by order, amend subsection (1) so as—
(a)to make any description of consumers within subsection (3) “designated consumers” for the purposes of this Part;
(b)to provide for any description of consumers to cease to be “designated consumers” for those purposes.
(3)The consumers within this subsection are consumers in England and Wales in relation to services provided by a water undertaker, a sewerage undertaker [F4, a water supply licensee or a sewerage licensee], in [F5the undertaker's or licensee's capacity] as such.
(4)Before making an order under subsection (2), the Secretary of State must consult—
[F6(a) except in the case of an order which relates only to consumers in Northern Ireland, Citizens Advice,
(aa) in the case of a relevant order other than one relating only to consumers in Northern Ireland or consumers within subsection (3), Citizens Advice Scotland [F7and Consumer Scotland],
(ab) in the case of an order which relates to consumers in Northern Ireland in relation to postal services, the GCCNI,]
(b)in the case of a relevant order, the Scottish Ministers,
(c)the Welsh Ministers, and
(d)such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
(5)For this purpose a “relevant order” is an order which relates to any description of—
(a)consumers in relation to gas conveyed through pipes or electricity conveyed by distribution systems or transmission systems, or
(b)consumers in relation to [F8postal services].
Textual Amendments
F3 Words in s. 4(1)(b) substituted (1.10.2011) by Postal Services Act 2011 (c. 5) , s. 93(2) (3) , Sch. 12 para. 176 ; S.I. 2011/2329 , art. 3
F4Words in s. 4(3) substituted (1.4.2017) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 137(a); S.I. 2017/462, art. 3(k)(xxv)
F5Words in s. 4(3) substituted (1.4.2017) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 137(b); S.I. 2017/462, art. 3(k)(xxv)
F6S. 4(4)(a)-(ab) substituted (1.4.2014) for s. 4(4)(a) by The Public Bodies (Abolition of the National Consumer Council and Transfer of the Office of Fair Trading's Functions in relation to Estate Agents etc) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/631) , art. 1(3) , Sch. 1 para. 12(6) (with Sch. 1 para. 28 , Sch. 2 paras. 13-15 )
F7Words in s. 4(4)(aa) inserted (13.1.2022) by The Consumer Scotland Act 2020 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/34), art. 1(1), Sch. para. 7(3) (with art. 5)
F8 Words in s. 4(5)(b) substituted (1.10.2011) by Postal Services Act 2011 (c. 5) , s. 93(2) (3) , Sch. 12 para. 176 ; S.I. 2011/2329 , art. 3
Commencement Information
I2 S. 4 in force at 21.12.2007 by S.I. 2007/3546 , art. 3 , Sch.