Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents: The Consumer and the civil law: "They say it isn't mine" -- "It's a good little bus" -- "It doesn't work" -- "It will cost E1, 000 to make them safe" -- "Do i have to pay?" -- "What are my remedies?" -- "They say that i have signed away my rights" -- "These small print terms seem very unfair" -- "How do i enforce my rights without going to court?" -- "What happens if i go to court?" -- The Consumer and the criminal law: Introduction -- "The Description misled me" -- "The Price was wrong" -- "The Goods aren't safe" -- Crime and compensation -- Administrative control: "They're trading unfairly" -- Special protection in credit transactions: The Background to consumer credit -- "What agreements are caught by the act?" -- Control of business activities -- "I can't remember what i signed" -- "The Goods are defective" -- "I have lost my credit card" -- "I can't afford to pay" -- "I want to see my credit file" -- The European union dimension -- Appendix 1: County court precedents -- Appendix 2: Codes of practice: OFT's core criteria -- Appendix 3: Community infringements -- Domestic infringements -- Appendix 4: Unfair commercial practices directive: Misleading and aggressive commercial practices -- Unfair commercial practices -- Legislation to be repealed.