Normally you can just ‘cut and paste’ your Terms & Conditions into your shop template. Ensuring customers are aware of your T&Cs is very important as a customer’s visit to your website may be the only chance you get to communicate with them. You have to be very clear about what is involved in transacting with you; if your T&Cs are badly presented it can cause confusion and lead to problems with your customers.
Shop solutions normally display your T&Cs in two places: firstly, as a link from the main shopping page; and secondly, when a customer proceeds to the checkout. Remember that if a customer has any queries about the service you are offering, then your Terms and Conditions are their first point of reference.
Your Terms and Conditions should contain information on your full company details, company name, address and contact email address. It is also sensible to outline the applicable taxation rates used and whether prices on the website include or exclude tax.
Information on the availability, delivery and dispatch of goods will also increase customer confidence in your service and stating a policy for the return of goods and cancellation rights will add to this. Legal statements covering the use of UK law, that when buying goods the customer is entering a legally binding contract and also a data privacy statement will further protect you and the customer.
As the web has grown into a business tool over past few years there have been specific government regulations dealing with ecommerce. People can sometimes see compliance as red tape but compliance can only build confidence in people buying goods and services online. The two main regulations that effect trading online are the Distance Selling and Electronic Commerce Regulations 2002.
The key features of the Distance Selling regulations are that the customer must be given clear information on the goods or services offered, after making a purchase the consumer must be sent confirmation and the consumer has a cooling off period of 7 working days.
The key features of the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive 2002) are: online selling and advertising are subject to the laws of the UK if the trader is established in the UK. Online services from other members states may not be restricted but there are exemptions especially for contracts with consumers and the freedom of parties to choose the applicable laws. Recipients of online services must be given clearly defined information on the trader and the nature of commercial commmunications (i.e. emails).
If you are selling to an international market you will also need to look at the tax implications for both EU and Rest of World customers.
More information on your legal obligations can be found on the Department of Trade and Industry website, www.dti.co.uk
