Under Distance Marketing Regulations, which scenario would be considered a consumer?

• A. A self-employed plumber taking out a Personal Pension Plan.
• B. A company with annual turnover of €2 million taking out car insurance for its fleet.
• C. A large corporation purchasing a lump sum bond.
• D. A charity investing in a lump sum investment bond.

Answer: (A)

Under Distance Marketing Regulations, a consumer is a natural person acting for purposes outside their trade, business or profession. The self-employed plumber is an individual purchasing a Personal Pension Plan for his private retirement, i.e., in a personal capacity, not for his business. That fits the consumer definition. The other scenarios involve organizations (a company, a large corporation, a charity) buying financial products for business or organizational purposes, so they are not consumers under these regulations. Therefore, the scenario with the self-employed plumber is the consumer.