Consumer Protection and the Regulation of Mobile Phone Contracts - A Study of Automatically Renewable Long-Term Contracts Across Jurisdictions
Dodsworth, TJ; Bisping, C
Date: 14 June 2019
Journal
Journal of Consumer Policy
Publisher
Springer Verlag
Publisher DOI
Abstract
This article deconstructs mobile phone contracts as an example of long-term contractual
relations in four jurisdictions to reveal that there are three elements which define consumer
protection. The elements are contract duration, renewal of the agreement, and unilateral
modification. Each of these factors are regulated differently ...
This article deconstructs mobile phone contracts as an example of long-term contractual
relations in four jurisdictions to reveal that there are three elements which define consumer
protection. The elements are contract duration, renewal of the agreement, and unilateral
modification. Each of these factors are regulated differently in each of the jurisdictions, but,
assessed collectively, similar levels of consumer protection are found. The authors show that
the reason for the different weighting is determined by regulation (subject-specific or
general), external factors, such as technological development, geography or business
considerations, and by wider cultural considerations. The comparison of these features across
the jurisdictions shows that, ultimately, regulatory intervention plays little role in contract
design, unless an overwhelming policy goal is pursued, which means that, in most cases,
regulators would be advised to avoid or reduce regulation of mobile phone and other longterm contracts.
Law School
Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
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