Equality Act 2010

Changes over time for: Section 140AA

Alternative versions:

Changes to legislation:

Equality Act 2010, Section 140AA is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 14 April 2026. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 140AA:

s. 40(1A)-(1C) inserted by 2025 c. 36 s. 21
s. 40B inserted by 2025 c. 36 s. 22(2)
s. 78(3A)(3B) inserted by 2025 c. 36 s. 34(2)
s. 153(1A)(1B) inserted by 2025 c. 36 s. 34(3)
s. 154(3A)(3B) inserted by 2025 c. 36 s. 34(4)
s. 208(5)(aa) inserted by 2025 c. 36 s. 22(3)

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

s. 40(1A)-(1C) inserted by 2025 c. 36 s. 21
s. 40B inserted by 2025 c. 36 s. 22(2)
s. 78(3A)(3B) inserted by 2025 c. 36 s. 34(2)
s. 153(1A)(1B) inserted by 2025 c. 36 s. 34(3)
s. 154(3A)(3B) inserted by 2025 c. 36 s. 34(4)
s. 208(5)(aa) inserted by 2025 c. 36 s. 22(3)

[F1140AAExtension of time limits because of alternative dispute resolution in certain [F2consumer contract] disputesE+W+S

This section has no associated Explanatory Notes

[F3(1)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.]

(2)Subsection (3) applies where—

(a)a time limit is set by section 118(1)(a) and (2) in relation to the whole or part of a [F4consumer contract dispute];

(b)[F5ADR] in relation to the [F6consumer contract dispute] starts before the time limit expires; and

(c) if not extended by this section, the time limit would expire before [F7the ADR] ends or less than eight weeks after it ends.

(3) For the purposes of initiating judicial proceedings, the time limit expires instead at the end of eight weeks after [F8the ADR] ends (subject to subsection (4)).

(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).

(5)Where more than one time limit applies in relation to a [F9consumer contract dispute], the extension by subsection (3) of one of those time limits does not affect the others.

(6) For the purposes of this section, [F10ADR] starts in relation to a [F11consumer 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.

(7) For the purposes of this section, the non-binding ADR procedure ends on the date of the first of these to occur—

(a)the parties reach an agreement in resolution of the [F12consumer contract dispute];

(b) a party completes the notification of the other parties that it has withdrawn from [F13the ADR];

(c)a party to whom a qualifying request is made fails to give a response reaching the other parties within 14 days of the request;

(d) that the ADR entity notifies the party that submitted the [F12consumer contract dispute] to the ADR entity that, in accordance with its policy, the ADR entity refuses to deal with the [F12consumer contract dispute];

(e) after the parties are notified that the ADR entity can no longer act in relation to the [F12consumer contract dispute] (for whatever reason), the parties fail to agree within 14 days to submit the dispute to an alternative ADR entity;

(f)[F13the ADR] otherwise comes to an end pursuant to the rules of the ADR entity.

(8) For the purpose of subsection [F14(7)], a qualifying request is a request by a party that another (A) confirm to all parties that A is continuing with [F15the ADR].

(9) In the case of any [F16consumer contract dispute], references in this section to [F17ADR] are references to [F18the ADR] so far as it relates to that dispute, and references to a party are to be read accordingly.

(10)Where a court or tribunal has power under section 118(1)(b) to extend a period of limitation, the power is exercisable in relation to the period of limitation as extended by this section.]

Textual Amendments

F1S. 140AA inserted (9.7.2015) by The Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1392), regs. 1(2), 7(3) (with reg. 1(3))

F2Words in s. 140AA heading substituted (6.4.2026) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 27 para. 8(2); S.I. 2026/284, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(5)

F3S. 140AA(1) substituted (6.4.2026) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 27 para. 8(3); S.I. 2026/284, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(5)

F4Words in s. 140AA(2)(a) substituted (6.4.2026) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 27 para. 8(4)(a); S.I. 2026/284, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(5)

F5Word in s. 140AA(2)(b) substituted (6.4.2026) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 27 para. 8(5)(a); S.I. 2026/284, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(5)

F6Words in s. 140AA(2)(b) substituted (6.4.2026) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 27 para. 8(4)(a); S.I. 2026/284, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(5)

F7Words in s. 140AA(2)(c) substituted (6.4.2026) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 27 para. 8(6)(a); S.I. 2026/284, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(5)

F8Words in s. 140AA(3) substituted (6.4.2026) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 27 para. 8(6)(b); S.I. 2026/284, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(5)

F9Words in s. 140AA(5) substituted (6.4.2026) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 27 para. 8(4)(b); S.I. 2026/284, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(5)

F10Word in s. 140AA(6) substituted (6.4.2026) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 27 para. 8(5)(b); S.I. 2026/284, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(5)

F11Words in s. 140AA(6) substituted (6.4.2026) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 27 para. 8(4)(c); S.I. 2026/284, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(5)