The Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO) has responded to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) consultation on its proposed Annual Plan for 2022/23.
Cara Elliott, policy and public affairs advisor at ACSO, said that "although no specific mention is made of the legal services sector, the [CMA's] main themes are largely applicable and are essential in helping to ensure the market continues to innovate, grow and best serve consumers.
Despite some signs of improvements, namely an increased number of firms providing more information on price, service, redress and regulatory status to help consumers shop around, there has only been limited impact on the intensity of competition between providers. It is crucial that such information is presented in a manner that is accessible in both format and language to ensure consumers are able to make adequately informed choices."
Elliott further adds that ACSO echoes the CMA's concern regarding regulatory reform and would also "advocate for relevant stakeholders such as the Legal Services Board, the Legal Services Consumer Panel, the Ministry of Justice and the regulators to encourage better monitoring of unregulated firms.
Overall, the CMA should continue to work in collaboration with government, consumers and industry participants to ensure the legal services sector is able to innovate and grow. Only by drawing upon a wide range of specialist industry knowledge can the CMA achieve the objectives associated with the main themes it has outlined in its Annual Plan and fulfil its wider purpose to ensure that conditions exist to support strong competition and protect consumer interests."
ACSO members can download the full submission from the members' area of the website.