Whether you buy or sell items online, the European Parliament has agreed on EU-wide rules that offer shoppers more rights when buying things on the web, writes Craig McGinty.
Online traders must give buyers precise information on the total price, the goods ordered and full contact details, and purchasers will have longer to send back items they decide they do not want.
It is hoped the new rules will strengthen protection for online buyers and boost consumer confidence and cross-border on-line trade.
Individual governments will have two years to introduce the regulations and they do have a chance to make individual changes, but the key elements are:
- A 14-calendar-day cooling-off period for online purchases, this improves the current seven days many countries have. If buyers regret the purchase, for whatever reason, they may return it. The price paid by the consumer for the good must be refunded within 14 days of the withdrawal.
- It should be clear to consumers from whom they are buying, exactly what they are buying and how much it will cost when shopping online or ordering from a catalogue. The identity and address of the seller must always be clear.
- Under the new rules, any good ordered at a distance must be delivered to the buyer within 30 days, otherwise the consumer will have the right to cancel the purchase. The trader is responsible for any damage or loss of the good during delivery.
"We wanted to regulate mainly off-premises and distance contracts such as online trading, as this is where the most cross-border sales take place", said EU Parliament chief negotiator Andreas Schwab.
"The new directive is thus a good example of how more Europe brings more benefits to consumers and traders alike. We have reached a well-balanced deal which meets both calls from consumers and business interests."
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