COMPUTERACTIVE “FAIR AND SQUARE” CAMPAIGN FIGHTS FOR ONLINE SHOPPERS’ RIGHTS
- Computeractive exposes online retailers breaking the law -
Last year Computeractive revealed how Broadband speeds radically differed from those consumers believed
they were receiving. Now Computeractive has turned its attention to the rights of online shoppers. Research
of over 3,500 consumers shows that many online retailers are breaking the law and treating customers
unfairly:
• 55% of consumers have been incorrectly told that they need to return faulty goods to the manufacturer
• One in six of those polled have been charged an entirely fraudulent restocking/administration fee
• 54% of those polled said they do not understand their rights when shopping online
“What this research reveals unequivocally is that UK shoppers need to be better informed of their online
consumer rights” said Paul Allen, editor of Computeractive. “There are specific rules to protect online
shoppers that some retailers abuse”.
The Fair and Square campaign aims to educate shoppers about their online rights and to bring the minority of
businesses that flout existing consumer protection laws to the attention of Government. It also challenges
online retailers to sign up to a Consumer Confidence Charter to ensure shoppers are able to identify reputable
sites to avoid getting ripped off.
The Charter lays out three promises that every online retailer should make to the British public. These
promises simply ask retailers to guarantee that they will comply with existing laws and to provide clear
channels of communication should problems occur.
Paul Allen, editor of Computeractive said “The sorts of practices uncovered by our research are entirely
unacceptable. Responsible retailers should be eager to sign up to our Consumer Confidence Charter, and we
hope this will become a de facto UK standard upon which web shoppers will be able to base their purchasing
decisions.”
Online shopping offers excellent value and convenience to Briti