Britain’s Consumer Protection Regulations is set to pass on May 26, 2008, which will ban 31 types of unfair sales practices which include bogus closing-down sales, prize-draw scams, aggressive sales solicitations. It will also crack down on rogue traders who have used loopholes for unfair trading practices. So, what’s got the psychic community in an uproar?

Promises to raise the dead, secure good fortune or heal through the laying on of hands are all at risk of legal action from disgruntled customers.

The Consumer Protection Regulations will replace the Fraudulent Mediums Act. Once the regulations go into effect, all UK mediums will be required to cite a list of disclaimers before they launch into their regimen. Legitimate mediums have no protection against consumers, who could easily sue them for real or alleged fraud. The medium will have to prove to the court that they did not intentionally mislead, coerce or take advantage of the client’s vulnerability for financial gain.

Carole McEntee-Taylor, a spiritualist healer in Essex, said having to stand up and describe the invoking of spirits as an ‘experiment’ was forcing spiritualists to ‘lie and deny our beliefs’. She added: ‘No other religion has to do that. And how can you tell if someone is vulnerable? You would have to ask them if they felt vulnerable, or had mental health issues, or were of a nervous disposition.’

Her husband, David, says, “It is taking a religion, a way of life, and making it a commercial transaction.”

While Carole makes some good points about determining people’s emotional and psychological dispositions, I find it hard to swallow that spiritual healing or psychic mediumship is a religion. Yes, spiritualism is a way of life and a religion. But when you require people to pay for your services, then your readings are considered a commercial transaction by law. Churches do not require their members to pay a fee at the door before they are allowed to attend Sunday services. Rather, members give donations to support the church and the various charity causes they run. There’s a big difference.

The couple plans to present a petition to 10 Downing Street on April 18th. I think there’s a good chance that the courts will overturn it and pass the law, which is a long time in coming. The psychic business has grown into a multi-million dollar industry both in the UK and the US, rampant with fraudsters who are looking to make themselves wealthy off of people’s miseries. It’s high time that this industry saw some regulation.

Source: Guardian.co.uk