Just two comparison websites sign up to new legal standards

Only two comparison websites have signed up to new good-practice standards designed by the Consumer Panel, neither of which specialise in legal services.

The standards require signatories to provide clear information about how they are financed, allow users to make "meaningful choices", and include offline contact details of their owners.

"Comparison websites are well-established across many sectors and we expect legal services to catch-up soon," panel chair Elisabeth Davies (pictured) said. "Problems with these websites in other markets have dented public trust and it's important to prevent these mistakes happening in legal services."

The two launch signatories are www.checkaprofessional.com, which lists a number of professional and trade services ranging from quantity surveyors to male grooming, and www.reallymoving.com, a site specialising in property services including removals and conveyancing.

The new standards follow the publication in April of the panel's work programme, which anticipates a rise in the number of consumers turning to DIY law as a result of the legal aid cuts.

Earlier the watchdog expressed concerns that legal information was scattered around the internet, preventing consumers from using their buying power.

Signing up is voluntary, with websites self-certifying that they comply with the standards; there is no ongoing monitoring by either the panel or the regulators.

"The standards are designed to guide websites down the right path and enable them to demonstrate they are committed to treating their customers fairly," Davies said.

Signatories are asked to include "a sufficient number of providers to enable consumers to make a meaningful choice" and invite owners to allow consumers to compare providers "on information other than price, e.g. quality and service features".

Users should also be able to compare like for like, with prices quoted reflecting the total cost of the work including all mandatory fees and charges. "There should be clarity around any excluded costs" and "Websites should make clear the basis for charging, e.g. fixed fee or hourly rate", the standards say.

Last year a panel report found that only one per cent of consumers had used the web to compare legal services and called for new 'choice tools' allowing consumer to make more informed decisions.

 

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GOOD PRACTICE STANDARDS

C - Enabling good choices

8. Websites should include a sufficient number of providers to enable consumers to make a meaningful choice. They should be transparent about their level of market coverage, especially where the site has a limited number of providers

9. It would be best practice to enable consumers to compare providers on information other than price, e.g. quality and service features

10. Websites should make clear the basis on which a comparison is made. Consumers should be able to sort, filter and shortlist comparison tables according to every field of information present

11. Assumptions made about consumers that are used to generate quotes are clearly and prominently displayed on websites and at each stage where the consumer makes a choice so they are aware of these assumptions

12. Websites should advise the consumer where a search result does not match their specific request

D - Accuracy

13. The price quoted should reflect the total cost of the work including all mandatory fees and charges. There should be clarity around any excluded costs. Websites should make clear the basis for charging, e.g. fixed fee or hourly rate. The price quoted should be available

14. Information should be kept up-to-date

15. Marketing statements should be factually correct, up-to-date and avoid misleading or exaggerated claims

 

>> Access the Good practice standards (consumer Panel's website)