Did you Know?

Since June 2014, the EU has increased the level of consumer protection for online shoppers.

EDC News: Consumer Rights – Online Shopping

More and more Europeans are buying their goods online line every year. In 2013, 61% of internet users from Member States are using it to buy or order goods or services for private purposes. This has shown an increase of 11% compared with 2008 (Source: Eurostat).

E-shopping has provided consumers with many benefits, such as, greater choice and lower prices and, with competition, quality increases. For businesses, the EU internal market offers the opportunity to reach many more customers at very little additional cost. When purchasing goods from abroad there are things that should be considered, mainly YOUR RIGHTS when things go wrong. The EU has increased the level of protection for online shoppers and have also provided online information on “What to do when your online rights have been breached”.

Your rights include:

  • 14-day “cooling-off” period to return items. Please note that the right of withdrawal within 14 days is terminated once you start downloading or streaming digital content, provided that the trader has complied with his obligations. Specifically, the trader must first obtain your explicit agreement to the immediate download or streaming, and you must explicitly acknowledge the loss of the right to withdraw once the performance has started.

  • Enhanced rights to a refund

  • A ban on unjustified additional charges for payment by credit cards (or other means)

  • A ban on pre-ticked boxes so you don’t unintentionally buy unwanted add-ons

For more information:

 
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