When buying online it is important to look for the following information. For example, it will help to have the physical address if there is a dispute later.  That is why the Electronic Commerce Regulations (ECRs) apply to businesses which sell or advertise goods or services to consumers (and to other businesses) on the internet.

The ECRs provide buyers with the right to certain general information in a form which is easily, directly and permanently available. The following are some key points for shoppers, it is not the full ECR text.

If you are buying from a business selling or advertising on the internet, the business must give you certain information, including the following:

• Full company name and company registration number
• Physical address
• Traders contact details including an email address (providing only a contact us form is  not sufficient)
• The trader's VAT number if they are subject to VAT
• Where a business refers to the price of goods and/or services, a clear and unambiguous indication of those prices and, in particular, whether the prices include taxes and delivery costs.

If the contract is made entirely online, which may typically be the case if you order on a website the business must also give you the following information in a clear, comprehensible and unambiguous manner:

• the different technical steps to follow to conclude the contract
• whether or not the contract will be filed by the trader and/or accessible to you.
• how you can identify and correct input errors prior to placing the order
• any relevant codes of conduct which the trader subscribes to and information as to how they may be consulted electronically
• where a business provides terms and conditions that are applicable to the contract they must be made available in a way that allows you to store and reproduce them

You also have the following rights:

• Where you place an order through technological means, you must receive acknowledgement of receipt of the order electronically without undue delay.
• Email advertising must clearly identify it is commercial email and which trader has sent it