Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024
DMCC Act 2024 and Consumer Rights — What Changed for Faulty Goods Disputes
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCC Act) does not rewrite your Consumer Rights Act 2015 entitlements — but it significantly strengthens the enforcement machinery behind them. The CMA can now directly fine businesses that breach consumer law, without going through the courts. This page explains exactly what changed, what it means for faulty goods disputes, and how it intersects with your existing CRA rights.
What Is the DMCC Act 2024 and Why Does It Matter?
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 received Royal Assent in May 2024. It is a major piece of legislation covering three distinct areas: digital markets regulation for large online platforms, updates to competition law, and a significant expansion of consumer protection enforcement powers.
The consumer provisions — which are the relevant ones for faulty goods disputes — do two key things:
- Expand the CMA's enforcement powers: The Competition and Markets Authority can now directly enforce consumer law and impose fines of up to 10% of a business's global annual turnover — without needing to obtain a court order first. This is a fundamental shift from the previous regime.
- Introduce new specific consumer protections: Covering subscription traps, drip pricing, and fake reviews — areas where existing law was unclear or underenforced.
Your individual CRA 2015 rights are unchanged. The DMCC Act changes who enforces the rules at the systemic level — not the rules themselves.
What Did the DMCC Act 2024 Specifically Change for Consumers?
CMA Direct Enforcement
Before
CMA had to go through courts to enforce consumer law against businesses.
After DMCC
CMA can now directly enforce consumer law and impose fines of up to 10% of global annual turnover — no court order required.
Impact on faulty goods disputes: High — makes enforcement faster and more credible. Businesses with a pattern of CRA breaches face real financial risk.
Subscription Traps
Before
Subscriptions with unclear cancellation mechanisms were handled under general unfair contract terms law.
After DMCC
New specific rules require clear cancellation mechanisms, reminder notices before renewal, and simpler exit routes.
Impact on faulty goods disputes: Relevant if faulty goods were sold as part of a subscription service or bundle.
Fake Reviews
Before
Fake and incentivised reviews were addressed under existing misleading advertising law — enforcement was limited.
After DMCC
DMCC Act explicitly bans commissioning fake reviews and using undisclosed incentivised reviews. Platforms must take reasonable steps to prevent fake reviews.
Impact on faulty goods disputes: Relevant if you were misled by fake reviews about a product's quality — this is now an enforceable consumer law violation.
Drip Pricing
Before
Hidden fees added at checkout were addressed under general price transparency rules — inconsistently enforced.
After DMCC
DMCC Act bans drip pricing where mandatory fees are hidden until late in the purchase journey. The total price must be clear upfront.
Impact on faulty goods disputes: Relevant if the final price you paid differed materially from the advertised price due to undisclosed fees.
Online Platform Accountability
Before
Marketplaces like Amazon Marketplace and eBay had limited direct accountability for consumer rights failures by third-party sellers.
After DMCC
Expanded CMA powers allow investigation and enforcement against platforms that systematically fail consumers — not just individual sellers.
Impact on faulty goods disputes: High for marketplace disputes. If a platform is blocking your access to remedies against a third-party seller, reporting to the CMA is now more viable.
Does the DMCC Act Help with an Individual Faulty Goods Dispute Right Now?
For an individual dispute, the DMCC Act's most important practical effect is credibility. Businesses now know that consumer law enforcement has real financial teeth — the CMA can fine them up to 10% of global turnover without a court order. This changes how compliance teams inside large retailers treat consumer complaints.
However, the DMCC Act does not create a direct complaint mechanism for individual consumers. If your retailer has refused your CRA claim, you still pursue it through the retailer directly, then chargeback/Section 75, then ADR, then county court. The DMCC Act does not shortcut this sequence.
Where the DMCC Act matters most for individuals: if you have been affected by a subscription trap, drip pricing, or fake reviews that led to a faulty goods purchase, the DMCC's new specific protections in these areas give you a clearer legal basis to complain — to your bank, to an ADR scheme, or to Trading Standards.
Frequently Asked Questions About the DMCC Act 2024
What is the DMCC Act 2024?
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 received Royal Assent in May 2024. It has three parts: digital markets regulation, competition law updates, and consumer protection provisions. The consumer provisions expand the CMA's power to directly enforce consumer law — including CRA 2015 protections — without going through the courts.
Does the DMCC Act 2024 change my faulty goods rights?
No — your CRA 2015 rights to reject, repair, replacement, and refund remain unchanged. What the DMCC Act changes is the enforcement mechanism: the CMA can now directly fine non-compliant businesses and act on systemic breaches without a court order.
What new consumer protections does the DMCC Act 2024 introduce?
New protections against subscription traps (unclear cancellation), drip pricing (hidden mandatory fees), and fake reviews (commissioned or undisclosed). It also gives the CMA power to impose fines of up to 10% of global turnover for serious consumer law breaches.
How does the DMCC Act affect online marketplace purchases of faulty goods?
The CMA can now investigate and take direct action against platforms that systematically fail consumers — not just individual sellers. If a marketplace is blocking your access to remedies against a third-party seller, reporting to the CMA is now a more viable option.
Does the DMCC Act help me with a specific faulty goods dispute right now?
For individual disputes, the DMCC Act does not create a direct complaint mechanism. Your rights are still enforced through the retailer, ADR, or county court via CRA 2015. The DMCC Act's main practical value is that it signals a strengthened regulatory environment — businesses know the CMA now has real enforcement teeth.
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