The Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations
These regulations are in place to protect customers, and to boost their confidence in a situation where the contract is made without any face-to-face contact between your business and the customer.
The main point of the Distance Selling Regulations is that, depending on your product / service, customers are allowed a ‘cooling off’ period after purchasing a product or service in a distance selling situation. During the cooling off period, the customer is allowed to cancel the contract without penalty within a certain timeframe, so it is important that you are fully aware of your rights and responsibilities in terms of the Distance Selling Regulations.
Terms and Conditions
You need to include the terms and conditions of sale on the Website and on any confirmation letter / eMail to the customer. This should include your name, the name of the company, a description of the products, the price including any delivery costs, details of delivery arrangements, and a notice stating the right of the customer to a cooling off period during which they may cancel the order.
All of this information should be presented to them in the form of a ‘terms and conditions’ statement which is incorporated into the Website, ensuring that they must agree to them before they can place an order – this is very important.
Further information
The Distance Selling Regulations:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2000/20002334.htm
Amendments to the Distance Selling Regulations:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20050689.htm