How UK law protects you when you speak with a psychic

The United Kingdom has a longer and more colourful legislative history with psychics and mediums than almost any other country. From the Witchcraft Act of 1542 through to the Fraudulent Mediums Act of 1951 — and its eventual repeal in 2008 — Parliament has grappled for centuries with the question of how to regulate claims of supernatural ability.

Today, there is no specific psychic licensing regime in the UK. Psychics do not need qualifications, registration or government approval to practise. But they are subject to the same consumer protection laws as every other service provider, along with specific advertising rules enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority.

From the Fraudulent Mediums Act to the Consumer Protection Regulations

For over half a century, the Fraudulent Mediums Act 1951 was the UK’s primary legislation governing psychic services. The Act made it an offence to fraudulently purport to act as a medium or to use fraudulent devices for the purpose of deceiving. Crucially, the burden of proof lay with the prosecution — the state had to demonstrate that the medium was knowingly deceiving, which proved extremely difficult in practice.

On 26 May 2008, the Fraudulent Mediums Act was repealed and replaced by the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs), which implemented the EU Unfair Commercial Practices Directive into UK law. This was a significant shift. Under the old Act, the medium was essentially protected unless fraud could be proven. Under the CPRs, the burden moved to the trader: a psychic service provider must now be able to demonstrate that they have not misled or coerced the consumer.

Misleading actions

A commercial practice is misleading if it contains false information, or if its overall presentation deceives or is likely to deceive the average consumer — even if the information is factually correct — and causes or is likely to cause the consumer to make a transactional decision they would not have made otherwise.

Misleading omissions

A practice is also misleading if it omits or hides material information, or provides it in an unclear, unintelligible, ambiguous or untimely manner, and this causes or is likely to cause the consumer to make a different transactional decision.

Aggressive practices

Commercial practices that use harassment, coercion (including the use of physical force), or undue influence to impair the consumer’s freedom of choice are prohibited. For psychic services, fear-based selling — telling a caller they are cursed, that something terrible will happen if they do not book further sessions, or that only continued paid contact can protect them — falls squarely into this category.

Banned practices

The CPRs include a blacklist of 31 commercial practices that are considered unfair in all circumstances. These include falsely claiming that a product or service is able to cure illness, dysfunction or malformations, and creating a false impression that the consumer has already won or will win a prize.

The UK Government has signalled further reform. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act is expected to replace the CPRs, introducing direct fining powers for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and adding new banned practices around fake reviews, drip pricing and dark patterns.

The Advertising Standards Authority and psychic advertising

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) regulate all advertising in the UK and have published specific guidance on psychic and spiritual services.

The key requirements are clear: marketers must hold documentary evidence to substantiate any claims capable of objective verification. Marketers must not mislead or exploit vulnerable consumers. Claims about successfully solving problems or improving health, wealth or relationships should be avoided because they are likely to be impossible to prove. The word “help” should be replaced with “advice” in service descriptions, because “help” implies a tangible outcome that the service may not deliver. References to healing must refer to spiritual healing, not physical healing. Testimonials must be genuine.

For broadcast advertising, the rules are stricter. The UK Code of Broadcast Advertising prohibits television advertisements from promoting psychic practices or practices related to the occult, with a narrow exception for live psychic entertainment services broadcast on licensed channels under Ofcom oversight.

The Fraud Act 2006

Where a psychic service crosses the line from poor practice into deliberate deception for financial gain, the Fraud Act 2006 may apply. Section 2 creates an offence of fraud by false representation — where a person dishonestly makes a representation that is untrue or misleading, with the intention of making a gain or causing a loss. The maximum sentence is ten years’ imprisonment.

What ethical psychic practice looks like in the UK

Transparent pricing with no premium-rate surprises. Many UK consumers associate psychic phone lines with expensive premium-rate numbers and opaque per-minute charges. Soul 2 Path operates differently. You purchase a credit pack at a published rate in Australian dollars — the same rate applied in Australia and New Zealand — and call a standard phone line. Your balance is visible, your spending is capped by your prepaid credit, and there are no automatic top-ups or subscriptions.

No efficacy claims, no outcome guarantees. In line with ASA guidance and the CPRs, Soul 2 Path does not claim that readings will cure, fix or guarantee any outcome. Our psychics offer guidance, insight and a space for reflection.

No fear-based selling. The CPRs specifically prohibit aggressive commercial practices, including the use of undue influence. Soul 2 Path psychics do not tell callers they are cursed, do not manufacture urgency, and do not pressure callers to purchase additional sessions.

Protection of vulnerable consumers. The CPRs assess misleading conduct not just against the “average consumer” but against the “average member of the group to whom the practice is directed” — meaning that a service targeting people in grief or emotional distress is held to a higher standard. Soul 2 Path takes this responsibility seriously.

Privacy and confidentiality. Your phone number is never visible to the psychic. Your personal details are never sold or shared. The content of your reading is not recorded. Soul 2 Path complies with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 in its handling of personal data.

How Soul 2 Path upholds these standards

Every psychic on our platform is individually assessed before they take their first call. We screen for demonstrable intuitive ability, professional conduct, and the capacity to deliver readings with care and integrity.

Our billing model is designed to eliminate the practices that have historically given the UK psychic phone industry a poor reputation. There are no premium-rate numbers, no automatic subscriptions, no overruns beyond your prepaid balance, and no hidden charges. Your credit never expires, and your call ends the moment your balance is exhausted.

Further reading

• Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 — UK Parliament
• Spiritual and psychic services advertising guidance — ASA
• Fraud Act 2006 — legislation.gov.uk

This article is published by Soul 2 Path for informational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. If you believe you have been misled by a psychic service provider, contact your local Trading Standards office, the Citizens Advice consumer helpline, or Action Fraud.