A consumer is someone who purchases goods or services for personal use, as opposed to buying something on behalf of a business.
In general, consumers are afforded significantly more legal protection than businesses and, as such, there’s far less room for manoeuvre when dealing with consumers.
There are a number of special rules which apply to doing business with consumers, particularly when it comes to the terms and conditions (T&Cs) contained in consumer contracts. Businesses contracting with consumers must abide by a wide range of consumer law requirements. Products should be advertised accurately and clarity is vital in order to ensure the effectiveness of contracts. Using complicated or onerous terms or attempting to exclude or even limit liability should be avoided. It’s vital that small businesses operate in accordance with the following consumer laws.