Check out your consumer rights before you seal a deal online says Citizens Advice
31st October 2005
New guidance aimed helping people make cyber savvy purchases has been published by Euroconsumer, Citizens Advice's cross-border consumer help centre.
The problem-solving charity is alerting people to check out their rights when buying online from overseas firms, as it backs National Consumer Week, with this year's theme calling for consumers to be safe and sound in their home.
More and more people are using the internet to buy goods and services cross-border. The law says if people buy goods or services online, from someone who is selling in the course of a business, they still have the rights they get when they buy in a shop. In addition EU wide distance selling law provides some additional rights consumers need because they have not seen the goods.
Although more legislation is becoming similar across Europe, many people who purchase goods or services from abroad do not realise that their rights may differ depending on which country they bought the goods. Euroconsumer deals with hundreds of enquiries from people who need information on their rights under local consumer law in European countries and helps in resolving problems.
The new guidance available at www.euroconsumer.org.uk in the 'your rights' section under 'shopping in Europe' covers consumer rights and top tips to try and help consumers avoid future problems.
Top tips for buying goods at a distance - over the internet - include:
- Make sure you have full contact details of the trader
- Make sure you know what you are buying
- Make sure that you know how much it will cost including any delivery charges and taxes
- Keep a copy of your order and the terms and conditions on the website
- For most goods purchased at a distance you can change your mind up to 7 working days after delivery and get your money back.
Director of Euroconsumer Ruth Bamford said:
"We all deserve to feel safe, especially in our own homes. This is why in this years National Consumer Week we are encouraging people to check out their consumer rights before buying goods online.
"By using our new factsheet to check out these rights we hope that people will be able to make cyber savvy purchases and also be equipped to know what they can do if things go wrong."
The UK ECC is jointly funded by the DTI and the European Commission. It can be contacted by emailing euroconsumer@citizensadvice.org.uk, by writing to UK ECC, PO Box 3308, Wolverhampton, WV10 9ZS or by visiting a local Citizens Advice Bureau.
The ECC's offices in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and Sweden also participated in the report.
Last updated: February 22, 2007