Inaccurate information on your website: the legal risk

Key takeaways

Inaccurate website information carries two legal risks: what you tell consumers about a service can become binding under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, and misleading information can breach consumer protection law, which the CMA can now enforce directly with fines of up to 10% of global turnover. The usual causes are out-of-date prices, hours and claims.

• Information consumers rely on can become a binding term.
• Misleading information can breach consumer protection law.
• The CMA can fine up to 10% of global turnover since April 2025.
• Most errors are old prices, hours, claims and credentials.

What is the legal risk of inaccurate website information?

The legal risk is twofold. Under section 50 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, information about a service that a consumer takes into account can become binding. Separately, misleading information can be an unfair commercial practice. Global Bridge Labs (GBL) sees most risk arise from neglect rather than intent.

• What information should every business website have?
• Legal requirements for a UK business website

What changed with the DMCC Act 2024?

Since April 2025, the DMCC Act 2024 has given the CMA power to decide whether consumer law has been broken and to fine businesses directly, up to 10% of global turnover. Misleading actions and omissions remain at the heart of the rules, so accuracy matters more than ever.

• Dark patterns: conversion tricks that break UK law

Which errors are most common?

The most common errors are prices that have risen, hours and areas that have changed, credentials or memberships that have lapsed, staff who have left, old offers still live, and claims that cannot be evidenced. Each is easy to miss and easy to fix once found.

• Out-of-date prices and offers.
• Changed hours, areas or addresses.
• Lapsed accreditations and insurance.
• Unsupported claims such as 'best' or 'cheapest'.

• Out of date website content: what to check and fix
• Conflicting information across your website: fix it

Do claims need evidence?

Yes. Advertising rules require marketers to hold evidence for objective claims before making them, and consumer law prohibits misleading claims. 'Fastest response in the area' or 'trusted by 500 businesses' need proof. If you cannot prove it, reword it or remove it.

• Cite your sources: back up the numbers on your website

How do you prevent inaccuracy?

Keep a master fact sheet with an owner for each fact, check the website against it every quarter, and update it the same week anything changes. Add expiry dates for insurance and accreditations, and remove time-limited offers automatically.

• Keep one master sheet of your business facts
• The website information inventory: 30 items to check

When is a small inaccuracy not a legal problem?

Minor errors that would not affect a buyer's decision, such as a typo, are unlikely to be a legal problem. The test is whether the average consumer would be likely to take a different decision because of it. Prices, terms, credentials and availability usually pass that test.

What does this look like in practice?

A pattern we see: a 'free survey' offer from a past campaign stays on the site after the business starts charging for surveys. Customers who book quote the website. Removing expired offers and keeping a list of live ones avoids the dispute entirely.

• See client work
• Website Design & Development for UK businesses

Website accuracy checklist

• Check prices and offers are current.
• Check hours, areas and addresses.
• Check accreditations and insurance dates.
• Evidence every objective claim.
• Remove expired offers.
• Review against the fact sheet quarterly.

• Who should check the legal information on your website?
• Moved premises? Update your website information first

Next step

Read every price, offer and claim on your site this week and ask: could I prove this today? Fix or remove anything you could not.