Consumers, particularly those shopping online, will enjoy new rights thanks to new EU legislation that has been given the green light by the 27 member states.

The new rules, which will come into force in two years’ time, will for the first time empower customers shopping online or through mail order catalogues and door-to-door sales to return their purchases and get a full refund, including postage costs, without giving a reason.

Also, while under current laws shoppers have seven calendar days to return the goods purchased, the new EU rules will be doubling this period to give them more time to change their mind. And this period will be extended to up to a year if the seller does not clearly inform the customer about the withdrawal right.

Moreover, the traders have to refund consumers within 14 days of the withdrawal.

The new rules also include the elimination of surcharges for credit card payment and the introduction of an EU-wide withdrawal form.

Traders have to disclose the total cost of the product or service as well as any extra fees and pre-ticked boxes on the internet will become illegal. Consumer will have to tick a box themselves and not forced to untick boxes as is sometimes the case when buying additional services (insurance/car hire/etc) and when buying an online flight ticket.

Consumers will have a right to withdraw from purchases of digital content, such as music or video downloads, but only until the moment the actual downloading process begins.