July 23, 2010
UK consumers are ignorant to the dangers of online shopping and are continually falling victim to the internet’s many scams and swindles, consumer protection regulator the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) believes.
To improve online protection, the OFT has published its plans to improve safeguards for consumers surfing internet stores.
Favouring the education route over increased legislation and regulations, the OFT has called on the government to inform consumers, improve guidance for retailers and increase communication between said retailers and enforcement agencies.
According to the OFT, Its news ‘strategy’ will “improve effectiveness of online markets, thereby increasing the level of sustainable trust. It will also ensure that the UK is one of the global leaders in online enforcement”.
"[The strategy will] empower consumers by educating consumers on their rights and the benefits of transacting online, making them more internet-savvy, and providing them with tools to fix problems they may encounter," added an OFT consultation.
Currently, the OFT is also investigating internet retailers’ more underhanded pricing methods, such as drip pricing and time-limited offers, commonly used online. New plans will include measures to clarify exactly what protections consumers have when shopping online, promoting more consistency between online and offline commerce laws.
By the end of 2010, the OFT’s wants its strategy for e-consumer protection to come into force, with consultations on the ideas due in October.
In the meantime, if you’ve fallen foul on internet retailers and believe your e-consumer rights are being grossly breached, seek legal advice today and ensure that your wallet is not damaged by online sharks.
