Sales at a distance

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.