Distance Selling Regulations

If you sell goods or services to consumers by:

• the internet
• digital television
• mail order, including catalogue shopping
• phone
• fax

then you need to know about the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000.

The key features of the regulations are:

• you must give consumers clear information including details of the goods or services offered, delivery arrangements and payment, the supplier's details and the consumer's cancellation right before they buy (known as prior information)
• you must also provide this information in writing
• the consumer has a cooling-off period of seven working days.

Download our business guide Home shopping: Distance Selling Regulations (pdf 127 kb).

The Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 can be seen on the Office of Public Sector Information website.

You may also find it useful to refer to the Financial Services (Distance Marketing) Regulations (SI 2095/2004) and the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Amendment Regulations (SI 689/2005), which can also be found on the OPSI site.

Back to: Legal powers