The Consumer Protection Act 1987 makes it a criminal offence to give consumers a misleading price indication about goods, services, accommodation (including the sale of new homes) or facilities.

It applies however you give the price indication - whether in a TV or press advertisement, in a catalogue or leaflet, on notices, price tickets or shelf-edge marking in stores, or if you give it orally, for example on the telephone. The term "price indication" includes price comparisons as well as indications of a single price.

Following a consultation, in October 2005 the DTI published a revised Code of Practice for Traders. The new guidelines have been updated to cover new ways of trading including the Internet and factory outlets.

Contact your local authority trading standards department if you have a query about enforcement of the law or how the law might apply in a particular case. Contact DTI on policy issues only, not enforcement or individual cases.