Know Your Online Buying Rights

Shopping online is a fantastic way of researching products and finding the cheapest deals available when making those difficult buying decisions.  But you may be put off by unfamiliar websites and a whole new set of rules to follow.  But don’t worry!  At to-buy.co.uk we share all the information you need to buy online in confidence.  Read on to find out what consumer rights apply when buying from the Internet.

Distance selling covers both goods and also services sold without face to face contact and includes any transactions made online, through digital TV, mail order, or over the phone.

What are My Rights When I buy Online?

• You have the same protection you would have if buying from a normal shop

  Shopping on the Internet works exactly the same as it does when you walk into a store and exchange cash for a new purchase.  All of the same rules apply throughout the whole year.  The one thing to make sure of is that you are buying from a UK company.  You will not have the same protection if buying from abroad – this doesn’t mean to say you should not buy from foreign Internet websites but make sure you understand that you won’t have the same protection.

• Online purchases can be cancelled within seven days

Thanks to the distance selling act you have the right to cancel your order within seven days of your goods being delivered, or in the case of ordering a service, you can cancel a contract in the same period.

But note there are some exceptions:

• Goods that have been customised for you specifically
• Perishable products such as  flowers or fresh foods
• Software, audio or video if unsealed
• Betting, gaming and lotteries
• Newspapers and magazines

You must also take care of the goods while you’ve got them as you have to send them back in reasonable condition.

So you actually have more protection when buying online than shopping in store  as you can return something just because you decide you don’t actually want it.

• If your order fails to arrive

  Again the Distance Selling Regulations offers you protection if something you order online isn’t delivered in time.  If the seller fails to deliver by an agreed time you have the right to a full refund, if no time was agreed then delivery should be within 30 days.

• Buy with a Credit Card

  Buying online using a credit card gives you an extra level of protection as the credit card company will be jointly liable for the transaction.  If something does go wrong you can get in touch with your card supplier and seek help from them.

Shop Online Safely

So actually when buying online in the UK you have a great deal of protection, at least as much as one could reasonably expect from our Internet stores.  Many thousands of people purchase goods without any problems every day so in the majority of cases you will experience no problems.  However if you are unlucky or perhaps you just want to change your mind then, with a couple of exceptions,  you have the right to send back your goods and get a refund.

In addition to the exceptions mentioned above, note that with auctions and private sellers the general rule is ‘buyer beware’.  So you will not have the same rights when buying using online auction sites such as ebay.