New rules for retailers

From 13 June 2014 retailers who sell to consumers, including those selling digital content, must comply with the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013.

Some of the key rules introduced are:

• consumers will be entitled to clearer and more prominent information before and after a sale is made to them
• if the consumer is buying digital content, they must have more information about such issues as compatibility and functionality and the fact that a digital download may not have a cancellation period must be made clear to the consumer at the point of sale and the consumer must agree to this
• the cancellation period for distance and doorstep sales will be increased from 7 to 14 days
• forbidding the use of premium rate customer telephone helplines.

The Regulations will have an impact on many areas of a business including websites, marketing literature and terms and conditions.