Your rights when shopping online

What rights am I entitled to when I buy over the Internet?

You have the same rights as when you buy from a shop. Moreover, you have additional rights because you are buying 'at a distance', without having the opportunity to examine the products or services. These additional rights also apply to other means of 'distance' buying, including buying through catalogues ('mail orders') and teleshopping.

What are these additional rights?

Before buying, the trader must provide you with contract details and a clear description of the goods or services you want to buy, the total price, any delivery costs and information about your rights.

The trader must execute your order within 30 days the day it is placed. If this cannot be done, then you must be informed and you may withdraw from the sale and be refunded the price.

Next week's piece will feature the right to cancel your order and exceptions to these rules.

For further information contact the European Consumer Centre of Malta and the Consumers Association at 47a South Street, Valletta, tel: 2122 1901, e-mail ecc.malta@gov.mt or info@camalta.org, or visit www.camalta.org.

You can also phone the Consumer and Competition Division on freephone 8007 4400. Across the EU, consumers have rights. Insist on yours.