| Fri 1 Jul 2011 |  Paul Lucas |
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There’s no hiding the advantages of online shopping – it’s well known that most retailers offer their best deals on the internet thanks to the savings they make on reduced overheads. Nevertheless, some people are wary of online shopping fearing complications if they need to return goods. However, now new rules will give European shoppers more rights when they return goods or when they pay by card.
Ruling the roost
The intention of the new rules is to help consumers grab bargains from overseas via the internet with many online buyers having longer to send back items they decide they do not want – although it could take up to two years for some governments to implement the changes.
| Among the key elements of the new rules, which are still subject to change, are: there will be a 14day calendar cooling-off period for online purchases – in many countries, shoppers have seven working days to return items bought on the internet they do not want to keep. In addition, rules ensure traders pass on only the actual cost of charges to people paying by credit or debit card rather than any additional surcharge; and there will be an end to customer service phone lines being charged at a premium rate. The rules have been implemented after it was highlighted that many consumer rules in EU countries pre-date the widespread use of internet shopping. |
They have largely been welcomed by consumer groups who had expressed concerns that the original proposals were too business friendly. However, according to Richard Lloyd, the executive director of the UK consumer association Which?, it is important that work to improve consumer rights does not end with this directive. He has called for an EU-wide dispute resolution service to protect individuals.
Why shop online
Hopefully these new rules will provide more reassurance to consumers who may have been fearful about making purchases online. There are certainly massive advantages to carrying out the bulk of your shopping online. For example, there is potential to save money on transport costs and time; and you have the advantage of being able to search quickly for exactly what you want rather than having to traipse around a store and potentially be drawn into additional purchases. Many online retailers now offer a number of incentives too, including free home delivery and clear discounts compared to the prices available in store.
In addition, you can use a very old fashioned method of saving money in a very modern environment. Just as you may have cut out coupons from magazines and newspapers in the past you can now use promo codes published at websites such as 5hop5.co.uk and enter the codes before completing your shopping to enjoy some potentially significant savings.
