Section 33B Extension of time limits because of alternative dispute resolution in certain consumer contract disputesF1F17

In this section—

• “ADR” has the same meaning as in Chapter 4 of Part 4 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024;

• “ADR entity” means a person who carries out ADR in compliance with section 293(1) of that Act (which prohibits persons from carrying out ADR unless exempt, accredited, or acting under special ADR arrangements, in accordance with Chapter 4 of Part 4 of that Act);

• “consumer contract dispute” has the same meaning as in Chapter 4 of Part 4 of that Act.

Subsection (3) applies where—

For the purposes of initiating judicial proceedings, the time limit expires instead at the end of eight weeks after F7the ADR ends (subject to subsection (4)).

If a time limit has been extended by this section, subsections (2) and (3) apply to the extended time limit as they apply to a time limit mentioned in subsection (2)(a).

Where more than one time limit applies in relation to a F8consumer contract dispute, the extension by subsection (3) of one of those time limits does not affect the others.

For the purposes of this section, F9ADR starts in relation to a F10consumer contract dispute on the date when the dispute is first sent or otherwise communicated to the ADR entity in accordance with the entity’s rules regarding the submission of complaints.

For the purposes of this section, F11the ADR ends on the date of the first of these to occur—

For the purpose of subsection (7), a qualifying request is a request by a party that another (A) confirm to all parties that A is continuing with F13the ADR.

In the case of any F14consumer contract dispute, references in this section to F15ADR are references to F16the ADR so far as it relates to that dispute, and references to a party are to be read accordingly.