• The Consumer must be given clear information about the goods or services offered.
• After making a purchase the consumer must be sent confirmation.
• The Consumer has a cooling-off period of 7 working days.

The Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 (SI 2000 No. 2334), transpose into UK law Directive 97/7/EC on the protection of Consumers in respect of Distance Contracts. They cover both goods and services, where the contract is made without any face to face contact between Supplier and Consumer.

The purpose of the Directive is to increase Consumer confidence and so strengthen the single European market by providing an agreed minimum level of Consumer protection throughout the EC. The aim of the cooling off period is to give Consumers an opportunity to examine the goods or services being offered, as they would have when buying in a shop.

The right to cancel is fundamental, however this is balanced in the Regulations by the Consumer's responsibility to take care of the goods before returning them. The Directive does not apply to business to business transactions.

The official text of the regulations is available on the HMSO website, either via the bulletin board, or directly at:- www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2000/20002334.htm

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