Public support for class actions far outweighs opposition, according to a UK-wide poll.
Two-thirds of people canvassed on behalf of law firm Hausfeld said they want to be included in collective claims automatically, rather than having to sign up individually.
The research comes amid fierce lobbying over the future of the competition law collective actions regime, after the government launched a review last year. Disputes-only firm Hausfeld said the poll, commissioned from FindOutNow, is the largest yet conducted on the subject. A nationally representative sample of 3098 British adults took part.
When included automatically, 70% of respondents said would remain part of the claim. Nearly two-thirds support making collective claims easier to bring, while only 6% are opposed.
A notable minority, however, had never heard of collective actions. Hausfeld wants the government to launch a public information campaign to raise awareness, including the publication of settlement and judgment awards that can be claimed.
‘The polling highlights a striking contrast to the claims made by corporate-funded groups opposing the regime,’ the firm added.
Anthony Maton, global co-chair of Hausfeld, said: ‘The message from the public could not be clearer: people want fair markets, meaningful accountability and a system that ensures rule-breaking companies cannot simply retain unlawful gains. The findings show that the people who are aware of collective actions see their value, but equally a strong theme emerges i.e. that more still needs to be done including by the government around awareness and education, and the smart use of consumer websites, online news and social media will be paramount.’
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