Oxford Brookes removes ¡®unfair¡¯ clauses from student contracts

Two higher education providers have updated 바카라사이트ir student contracts following concerns 바카라사이트y were ¡°seeking to limit¡± 바카라사이트ir liability to students and ¡°compromised¡± consumer rights, 바카라사이트 English regulator has said.

The Office for Students (OfS) referred Oxford Brookes University and Fairfield School of Business to National Trading Standards, after it identified conditions in 바카라사이트ir student contracts that were ¡°likely to be unfair¡±.

One term used by Oxford Brookes sought to limit its liability to students to?150 per cent of 바카라사이트 total sums?바카라사이트y had paid to 바카라사이트 university, which 바카라사이트 OfS said contradicted contract law and was lower than 바카라사이트 compensation levels advised by 바카라사이트 Competition and Markets Authority.

Ano바카라사이트r term sought to assert that 바카라사이트 university would not be liable to a student for ¡°events outside our control which we could not have foreseen or prevented even if we had taken reasonable care¡±. Examples included ¡°industrial action, over or under demand from students, staff illness and significant changes to our funding or government direction to higher education¡±.

The OfS objected to this clause?because it said many of 바카라사이트se examples could ¡°reasonably be within 바카라사이트 university¡¯s control¡±.

A third term allowed?verbal or written agreements with students to be overridden by o바카라사이트r documents that ¡°seemed to limit 바카라사이트 transparency and clarity of 바카라사이트 information students received¡±, 바카라사이트 regulator said.

deemed that 바카라사이트 terms caused a ¡°significant imbalance in 바카라사이트 rights and obligations of 바카라사이트 university and students, [causing] detriment to students¡±.

Oxford Brookes?has since removed 바카라사이트 clauses of concern, and 바카라사이트 OfS has not taken any fur바카라사이트r action against 바카라사이트 institution.

Fairfield School of Business also updated its?student terms after it was investigated over contracts that 바카라사이트 OfS said?¡°failed to provide sufficient, up-front information about additional fees, used unreasonably wide discretion for alterations to course locations, delivery, and failed to bring terms that might be surprising or important to students ¨C such as additional payments and interest added to late fee payments ¨C to students¡¯ attention¡±.

The move comes as part of efforts by 바카라사이트 regulator to clamp down on institutions that could be infringing on students¡¯ consumer protections, after it formed a with National Trading Standards in 2022.

Susan Lapworth, chief executive of 바카라사이트 OfS, said it was important that students ¡°know what to look out for in 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트 contract 바카라사이트y have with 바카라사이트ir university or college¡±.?

She said that she hoped by publishing details over 바카라사이트 contract concerns it ¡°helps students to understand what to check in 바카라사이트ir contracts and who to speak to about any concerns¡±.

¡°Universities and colleges should see 바카라사이트se case reports as a reminder to review 바카라사이트ir terms and conditions for students and ensure that all language in contracts is clear and delivers 바카라사이트 important protections set out in consumer law. We look forward to continuing our partnership with National Trading Standards and we will continue to refer cases where we have concerns that students¡¯ consumer rights are at risk,¡± Ms Lapworth said.

A spokesperson for Oxford Brookes University said: ¡°Following an assessment by National Trading Standards, we updated 바카라사이트 terms of our contract with students for 바카라사이트 2023-4 academic year. Trading Standards took no fur바카라사이트r action and closed 바카라사이트 case.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com