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Consumer Corner

Top tips for your online shopping.

Online shopping gives consumers the convenience of purchasing high street brands without having to leave home.

However, as with any purchase, there are things that everyone should be aware of when buying online as consumers have rights and responsibilities when they purchase certain items in this way. Here are some points you should be aware of:

Ordering goods

Make sure you know who you are buying from. The website should provide a full postal address and telephone number of the retailer where you can write to them in the event of a dispute.

The final price quoted should be that charged, with no hidden costs added on after you have placed your order.

Make sure you keep a copy of all correspondence related to the order, including any confirmation e-mails received from the retailer.

Check the retailer’s policy on charging for outward postage costs and whether you will be required to pay for returning goods.

Where possible, use a credit card to make purchases over £100 and under £30,000. The credit card company will then be jointly liable if there is a problem with the goods or the company disappears.

Delivery

Unless you agree otherwise, any goods ordered should be delivered within 30 days of the order being placed.

If your goods turn out to be faulty, you are entitled to have the cost of the original and return postage refunded, along with the cost of the goods.

Cancelling an order

When you place an order you should be supplied with your cancellation rights (in a durable format), either at the time you place the order or before the goods are received.

Even after you have received the goods, you have seven working days to cancel, starting on the day following receipt of the goods.

If you wish to cancel an order you should always contact the trader immediately and keep a copy of the e-mail or letter sent.

Other relevant issues

If you return goods and are entitled to a refund, it should be processed by the supplier as soon as possible, and certainly within 30 calendar days of the order being cancelled.

Goods which you have rejected (either because they are faulty or because you have changed your mind) are your responsibility until they reach the trader. Therefore, you have a duty to keep the goods safe and in a clean and dry condition.