Any
description of information
about goods or services
should be accurate
and not misleading.
If you have been given
false or misleading
information you may
be entitled to a refund.
Before
the contract is made
you must be furnished
with the following
specific information
in a clear and comprehensible
manner:
- The
name and address
of the Supplier;
- The
main characteristics
of the good/service;
- The
price including
taxes and delivery
costs and how
payment is to
be made;
- How
the goods are
to be delivered
or how the service
will be performed;
- That
a right to cancel
exists;
- The
minimum duration
of the contract;
- How
long it will be
open to you to
enter into the
contract on these
terms;
- The
cost of the communication
between the parties
if its above a
basic rate
- How
the contract may
be cancelled;
- Any
guarantees and
after sales services
that are available;
- The
conditions for
terminating the
contract if it
is of unlimited
duration or for
longer that one
year
When
you purchase online
you are given 7 days
after receipt of the
good or service to
make a final decision
whether or not to
keep it. This period
begins:
a)
in the case of goods,
on the day you received
the information in
durable form.
b)
In the case of services,
the later of i) the
day on which the contract
was concluded or ii)
the day on which the
information in durable
form was received.
A
distance contract
must be performed
within 30 days of
you making the order.
Where
the goods are unavailable,
the supplier must
inform you and refund
you any monies paid
within 30 days of
informing him or her.
Equivalent goods may
be furnished if the
original order is
not available. This
can only be done where:
- the
consumer has consented
to this before
the contract is
made and
- the
consumer is informed
that if he or
she decides to
withdraw then
no cost of returning
the equivalent
goods can be deducted
by the supplier.
There
are many items that
are excluded from
the terms of the Distance
Selling Regulations.
This means the above
rules do not apply
when purchasing the
following items:
- Contract
for the provision
of transport,
accommodation,
catering or leisure
services where
the supplier has
undertaken to
supply those services
by a specific
time or date (e.g.
plane, train or
concert tickets
or hotel bookings).
- Auctions
- Financial
Services like
insurance or banking
- Purchases
from Automatic
Vending Machines
- Contracts
for the Sale of
Land
- Food
and drink delivered
to your home or
at work by regular
roundsmen (e.g.
milkmen, supermarket
delivery)
When
using your credit
card for online purchases
it is advised to first
of all check to see
if the website is
secure. Search for
information concerning
security measures/encryption
systems to make sure
your personal information
will be transmitted
securely.
Where
your credit card has
been used fraudulently,
you may cancel any
payments made under
a distance contract
and are entitled to
the return of that
payment immediately.
Always notify your
credit card company
immediately if you
suspect fraudulent
behaviour.
To
avoid any misunderstandings
after placing an order
online, it is advisable
that you have full
details of:
- Name
and geographical
address of the
vendor.
- Step-by-step
ordering procedures
and delivery schedule.
- Cost
of item, currency
of payment and
methods of payment
- Any
other charges
that may apply
including delivery
costs (VAT should
be included or
at least indicated
on goods and services
within the EU).
Where the goods
originate outside
of the EU, VAT
and customs duty
will be levied
at point of entry.
- Read
the vendors' terms
and conditions
carefully to find
out your rights
and obligations
under the contract.
- Information
concerning security
measure/encryption
systems to ensure
the secure transmission
of personal information
over the worldwide
web. Secure sites
will have a padlock
symbol on the
bottom right hand
corner.
- Confirmation
of your order.
You should receive
a confirmation
email if you do
not have email,
ask for a receipt
if you are paying
online. It is
a good idea to
print the confirmation
page when the
order is placed.
- Check
your credit card
statement carefully
to ensure that
you have been
billed correctly.
Inform your bank
immediately if
there is a discrepancy
and the credit
card company will
contact the vendor
to clarify the
situation.
- Cancellation
terms and complaints
procedure if you
are not satisfied
with the goods.
- Privacy
policy: Find out
how your personal
details are likely
to be used. You
should be able
to exercise your
right to refuse
further communication
from the company
or from a third
party.
