Question 1

Are terms and conditions legally binding in the UK?

Accepted Answer

T&Cs are only binding if you had a genuine opportunity to read them before agreeing and the terms are fair under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Unfair terms — those that create a significant imbalance to your detriment — are not binding even if you clicked "I agree". Under s.62 CRA 2015, you can rely on your statutory rights regardless of what the T&Cs say.

Question 2

Can a company change their terms and conditions without notice?

Accepted Answer

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a unilateral amendment clause — one that lets a company change T&Cs without your consent — may be unfair if it does not give you the right to cancel when terms change materially. Regulators including the CMA and FCA have taken action against companies using such clauses. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act 2024 strengthens these protections further.

Question 3

What are my UK GDPR rights when I accept a privacy policy?

Accepted Answer

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to access your personal data (Art.15), correct inaccurate data (Art.16), erasure / right to be forgotten (Art.17), data portability (Art.20), and to object to processing (Art.21). These rights cannot be contracted away in a privacy policy. Consent must be freely given, specific, and unambiguous — pre-ticked boxes and vague "by using this service you agree" language are not valid consent.

Question 4

What happens if a company's T&Cs are unfair?

Accepted Answer

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 s.62, unfair terms are not binding on consumers — you can ignore them. If a company tries to enforce an unfair term against you, you can report it to Trading Standards or the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which has power to take enforcement action. You can also use the Financial Ombudsman Service for financial services disputes.

UK Consumer Rights Guides

Terms and Conditions That Are Unenforceable in the UK

What Companies Hide in Their Privacy Policies (Your UK GDPR Rights)

How to Escape Subscription Traps in the UK (Your Legal Rights)