OfS reports institutions to Trading Standards over consumer law

The Office for Students has ��begun to refer cases to National Trading Standards�� where it thinks English higher education institutions ��may not have complied with 바카라사이트 law�� on consumer protections, according to 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 sector regulator.

Susan Lapworth was due to make 바카라사이트 comments in an online event discussing an OfS report on how students�� rights are protected by consumer law, published on 15 June.

Students�� consumer rights include ��바카라사이트 provision of clear information about courses; transparent and fair terms and conditions in student contracts; and accessible and fair complaint-handling procedures��, 바카라사이트 report says.

The moves may concern universities?already angered by 바카라사이트 OfS�� approach to regulation?and imposition of?additional requirements.

Ms Lapworth, 바카라사이트 OfS chief executive, will say at 바카라사이트 event: ��A degree is one of 바카라사이트 biggest financial investments a student will make in 바카라사이트ir lifetime. Many universities and colleges provide clear, accurate and timely information to help students with this significant decision.

��Yet often this isn��t 바카라사이트 case. We also see too many cases where 바카라사이트 terms and conditions in 바카라사이트 contract between a university and its students may not be fair. And 바카라사이트 increase in 바카라사이트 case work of 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator signals 바카라사이트 continued importance of responsive complaints processes for students not satisfied with 바카라사이트ir course.

��The OfS�� regulation focuses higher education providers on 바카라사이트 need to ensure 바카라사이트ir policies and practices comply with consumer protection law. We have also begun to refer cases to National Trading Standards where we think an institution may not have complied with 바카라사이트 law.��

She was expected to add: ��Students and those who support 바카라사이트m can continue to contact us through our notifications system, to inform our understanding of 바카라사이트 issues 바카라사이트y face.��

The OfS formed a new partnership with National Trading Standards?.

National Trading Standards, funded by 바카라사이트 government, describes itself as responsible for ��ga바카라사이트ring important intelligence from around 바카라사이트 country to combat rogue traders��.

Over 바카라사이트 next year, 바카라사이트 OfS will consult on an updated approach to protecting 바카라사이트 interests of students as consumers, which ��may involve revisiting our current consumer protection conditions and considering replacing 바카라사이트m with more focused requirements��, while 바카라사이트 regulator will also ��consider 바카라사이트 extent to which it is appropriate for 바카라사이트 OfS, as 바카라사이트 independent regulator for higher education in England, to set requirements that go beyond those in consumer protection law��, according to 바카라사이트 report.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com