eCommerce - Legal Requirements

What legal requirements are there?

If you sell goods or services to consumers by:

  • the internet – on-line shop (eCommerce)
  • digital television
  • mail order (including catalogue shopping)
  • telephone
  • fax

you must comply with the Distance Selling Regulations and this is a legal requirement.

The Distance Selling Act has been produced by the Government to protect the consumer. A comprehensive guide to the Distance Selling Regulations can be downloaded from the DTI Office of Fair Trading's website entitled A guide for businesses on distant selling (pdf file).

The key features of the Distance Selling Regulations are:

  • you must give your customers clear information and details of the goods or services you offer.
  • you must give your customers clear information regarding delivery arrangements and payment methods.
  • you must make it clear who you are by providing full contact details including an address and telephone number. This is also good for building trust with your customers.
  • you must give your customers clear information about their cancellation rights before they buy (which is known as prior information).
  • you must also provide information in writing.
  • the consumer has a cooling-off period of seven working days.

The Statutory Instrument for the Distance Selling Act is called The Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000.

You may also find it useful to refer to the Financial Services (Distance Marketing) Regulations and the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Amendment Regulations, both of which can be found on the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) website.

The above guide is not exhaustive, so you should take legal advice

Although the above requirements need to be adhered to - it's not as complicated as it may first seem.

Where would you like to go now?

Home Page - website homepage

Contact us - we’re here to help you

Back to top

 

Professional website packages in Lincolnshire…. to suit all needs and budgets