Internet auction sites must highlight consumer rights
A number of internet auction sites have agreed to amend or include information to help protect people buying from them, following a meeting with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
The sites eBay, eBid, CQout, QXL and Tazbar will include advice and links on to inform customers of their rights under the Distant Selling Regulations (DSRs).
In June this year the OFT published the findings of its Internet Shopping market study - Click here to download a copy
The study found that some businesses trading through online auctions were failing to identify themselves as businesses despite 60 per cent of online auction shoppers wanting to know whether they were buying from a business. Shoppers who buy from a business using the ‘buy now’
Head of Internet Shopping Study Team at the OFT, Steve Lisseter, said: ‘We welcome the efforts made by these online auction sites to raise awareness of consumers’ rights, and we are also very encouraged by the work they are doing to ensure that businesses using their sites are fully aware of their legal obligations.’
For further advice on consumer rights when shopping online, contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk