Your have the right to clear information before and after you buy online

Under the Distance Selling Regulations you have the right to clear information before you buy. Before you buy a seller must provide their customer with clear information including:

• Contact details - their name and if you have to pay in advance, a geographical address.
• Description - an accurate description of the goods or services.
• Price - The price, including taxes and delivery
• Price - how long the offer or the price remains valid
• Price arrangements – method of payments accepted
• Delivery - arrangements for delivery, which is usually within 30 days unless you agree otherwise.
• Cancellation - They must inform of your right to cancel the order- except for perishable goods, CD/DVDs/ orders that have been customised.
• Returns – the seller must state their returns policy- specifically if you have to pay for the cost of returning goods if you change your mind about them.
• Period - The minimum contract period for an ongoing service i.e. mobile phone, gas
• Substitution – You must be informed that they intend to supply a substitute if your ordered isn't available. If they do this, they have to inform you that they will meet the cost of returning the goods, if you decide that you do not want them.
• Premium rate – if the seller used premium rate telephone, fax or Internet charges.
• Contact - If a trader contacts you by telephone, his/her identity, and the commercial purpose of the call, should be given at the beginning of the conversation.

After you buy, the trader must provide you with a written confirmation either before (when the goods are delivered) or soon after the time a service starts. It should have the following information:

• Written confirmation – it could be by letter, email or fax, etc. It should include the above information if they haven’t already provided it e.g.in a catalogue or advertisement.
• Cancellation – state when and how the consumer can exercise their right to cancel
• Returns - information as to whether you or the consumer would be responsible for the costs of returning or recovering the goods
• Address – the company's geographical address.
• Warranties – they should give details of any guarantees, warranties or after-sales service.
• Cooling off period – a seller must tell you that if you begin the provision of service before the seven working day cooling off period, you are entitled to know how it will affect your right to cancellation.