Several High Street names not operating within Distance Selling Rules

A BBC investigation has discovered that some retailers are not operating within consumer laws imposed by the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000. Many are giving out false information about whether the consumer has a right to return their goods or have their delivery charges refunded. Under the Distance Selling Regulations, consumers have the right to change their mind at no charge within seven working days of delivery in respect of standard goods that they buy at a distance, such as through telephone, mail order or Internet. This is the so-called ‘cooling off period’. Next said that it is changing its policies to ensure that it complies with the law. Debenhams has also apologised for wrong information being posted on its web site and said that it too will correct that going forward. Other retailers are not within the rules but claim to be so. Trading Standards has said that there is no excuse for failing to comply with the Regulations 10 years after they came into force. It hopes that businesses will ensure their processes comply, but it has vowed to take action against traders that are not abiding by the law. The BBC report can be found here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10560466.stm.