It discusses civil laws which impose obligations on suppliers, including basic duties to pass title, to deliver the goods contracted for, to deliver goods of the right quality, and to deliver them at the right time. The manufacturer's liability under law is considered, along with future trends in view of recent reform proposals. Remedies for misrepresentation, for breach of contract, and in tort are outlined, and legal controls over exemption clauses in contracts are discussed. An examination of ways that consumers can seek redress covers private industry codes of practice which provide conciliation procedures and occasionally arbitration, voluntary small claims arbitration schemes introduced in Manchester and Westminster, and the county court arbitration program. The book then reviews controls over irregular business practices passed by Parliament, beginning with the Trade Descriptions Act of 1968. Provisions of the Consumer Safety Act of 1978 are also surveyed. Compensation for victims of criminal offenses is addressed through an analysis of orders for compensation under the Powers of Criminal Courts Act of 1973 and the right to bring civil proceedings for breach of statutory duty. Also described are administrative controls found in the Fair Trading Act of 1973. The scope and effects of the 1974 Consumer Credit Act are examined in detail, including its provisions concerning agreements, licensing, contract cancellation, defective goods bought on credit, lost credit cards, and debts. Finally, the European Economic Community's activities in the consumer protection field are discussed. Tables list cases and statutes cited in the text. The appendixes contain information on codes of practice and a summary of consumer protection in nationalized industries. Footnotes are supplied.