Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations

Charities will no longer be able to automatically include a donation as part of a purchase when consumers buy from them online, according to new regulations which will take affect from Friday 13 June.

The changes under Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations, were outlined in a consultation response document published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

The regulations are aimed primarily at additional payments automatically added to online purchases such as insurance products which are added to the item that the customer is buying. However, the change will also affect the way charities sell products including through their websites.

Charities selling online will now need to make it clear where there is an obligation to pay. This can be done by having a prominently displayed and clickable ‘pay now’ button on a web page so the customer is aware that their action will result in the order being completed and a charge being applied.

Under the new rules, consumers will be able to cancel any order they make online or when not in the seller’s business premises for up to 14 days instead of the current seven days. Charities will also need to provide consumers with a cancellation form.

To view the consultation response document visit www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/265801/bis-13-1365-stakeholder-response-to-the-implementation-of-consumer-rights-directive.pdf.