Closed petition Extend all consumer rights law to private sellers purporting to be businesses

Closed on 1 August 2021

Private individuals selling goods, who ‘purport’ to be selling in the course of business, should be treated the same as a bona fide business when it comes to consumer rights. Unscrupulous private sellers should not be able to hide behind not ‘selling in the course of business’ when taken to court

I recently believed I was buying from a reputable, bona fide business. When I asked to rescind the contract because the purchase was not fit for purpose, I was told the purchase was a private sale and I did not have consumer rights. In court the judge could not award my claim as although the seller had purported to be a business and there was evidence of this, he wasn’t, meaning I had no consumer rights. I believe if someone purports to be a business, they should be accountable as one.