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Sales at a distance
29 January 2010
We are receiving more and more enquiries from clients in
relation to doorstep and distance selling regulations, reporting
approaches from Trading Standards Officers asserting a failure to
comply with the regulations.
Doorstep and distance selling are regulated in
the UK by the Cancellation of Contracts Made in a Consumer’s Home
or Place of Work Regulations 2008 and the Consumer Protection
(Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 respectively.
The aim of these regulations is to protect
consumers who enter into contracts in circumstances where the
contract is negotiated away from the traders business (doorstep) or
where the contract is made online or over the phone (distance).
Under both regulations, traders must provide
consumers with specific information. In relation to the doorstep
selling, this information must be in a specified format. In
addition, the regulations give consumers a cooling off period which
allows them to cancel the contract if they change their minds for
any reason whatsoever.
Failure to provide consumers with this
information is a criminal offence.
If you would like any advice in relation to
these regulations, or assistance in revising your terms and
conditions to ensure that they are compliant, please do not
hesitate to contact us.
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The content of this bulletin is provided for the purposes of
general interest and information. It contains only brief summaries
of aspects of the subject matter and does not provide comprehensive
statements of the law. It does not constitute legal advice and does
not provide a substitute for it.