OFT explores online awareness

• Online purchases up 350%
• Are you aware of your rights?
• Buyers get ‘distance selling’ protection

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A new study of online shopping has been launched by the Office of Fair Trading to see if consumers are aware of their rights.

Online purchases have increased by 350% over the last five years to £18 billion per year.

The OFT wants to find out if consumers are confident when buying online and whether they are aware of extra rights given to them under the so-called 'distance selling' regulations.

Motorists buying a car through an online broker, or over the phone or by fax, get more protection than those walking into a dealership. A seven-day cooling off period means they can decide not to proceed with an agreement and need not provide any explanation to the seller for why they are backing out.

The OFT study, which will report its findings next year, will also investigate how many online business are aware of these regulations.