Fortune-tellers targeted in new Consumer Protection Regulations

[roseglass]

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/public_law/article3987725.ece

The fortune-tellers, at least, must have seen it coming. The biggest overhaul of consumer laws for 40 years takes effect on Monday, tightening controls on everything from door-to-door salesmen to children’s advertising.

Fortune-tellers and astrologists will be bracketed with double-glazing salesman under the new Consumer Protection Regulations. The changes, which implement an EU directive on unfair commercial practices, require businesses for the first time to act fairly towards consumers and will outlaw diresputable trading activities.

Fortune-tellers will have to tell customers that what they offer is “for entertainment only” and not “experimentally proven”. This means that a fortune-teller who sets up a tent at a funfair will have to put up a disclaimer on a board outside.

From the Times-Online UK

Worth the read.

[learner]

I suspect that there will be very small signs, conveniently out of site and a ready excuse when there is an inspection of compliance, once a decade or so.

"Ooops, sorry that curtain must have fallen over the sign this morning"

"Thats ok, see that its clearly displayed, il check again in 2027 sometime".

[-Fran-]

And most of their customers will still believe in them, and they will tell their customers 'society don't understand and make us do this, but you and me know it's real'... I don't think it will have any larger effect on the whole, sadly, at least not in making a certain group of people make more rational decisions about these things.

I do think it is a good thing, it can sure not make things worse, and it might make a few think twice about paying for such things.

[Kuko 4000]

What I can't understand is why people can still sell homeopathic products without big disclaimers on every box?

But yeah, great news :)

[dustbunny]

It's a shame that psychics, by law, weren't forced to read an entertainment only disclaimer to every client. Obviously, as a whole, it wouldn't have a great impact on their scams but it could prevent a few from venturing into their deceptive world. It's just a thought, like Learner says a dropped curtain will hide these disclaimers all too well. At least there's a little recognition for the true side of these psychics. That can never be a bad thing.

[learner]

Personally I would have hem wear a badge saying.." I'm a con artist, just thought id warn you before hand, sucker"

Seems reasonable to me..true

[dustbunny]

Personally I would have hem wear a badge saying.." I'm a con artist, just thought id warn you before hand, sucker"

Seems reasonable to me..true

It's worth a try ;) . Mind you it would probably be disguised as a button. They would have to supply clients with a magnifying glass just to see it. Oh well! :D

[learner]

Maybe a "reality check" booth might work, Sort of woo antidote. Sign outside stating "this is not for entertainment, its for your own good"
Get em inside,debunk the fortune teller, wack em round the ear and shove em out the door.
Sounds like a business plan to me.

[Orphia Nay]

Worth the read.

I agree. :)

Lyn Guest de Swarte, a clairvoyant, said: “It’s like trying to regulate God.”



:big:

[Skeptic Ginger]

Hey, it's a start. :)

[Pixel42]

Why are we discussing a ten week old article again?

I'm sure there was a thread when it was first published. And one earlier, when the legislation was first announced. And probably others in between.

[Orphia Nay]

It was new to me.