Online purchasing

If you are buying goods or services online, there are several rules and regulations that exist to protect you as a consumer.

To avoid common “traps” do not hesitate to:

• Check the reputation of the website through your internet browser.
• Verify that the site provides for not only the name of the company, yet equally a complete address. An email address or a simple phone number is not sufficient.
• Use secured methods of payment. Avoid bank transfers and specialized money transfer companies (only to be used if you know whom you are sending money).

When concluding online contracts with a trader established in the EU, the consumer bears several rights:

The trader’s obligation to provide information

The trader must provide the consumer with certain information prior to the order which include:

• their identity and address (an e-mail address alone is not sufficient),
• the essential characteristics of the product or service, the period of validity of the offer,
• a precise and unequivocal price indicative of what is included in the advertised price,
• the terms of payment, delivery or performance (such as possible credit options, the consequences of poor performance or non-performance of the service provider's obligations),
• the withdrawal period (including the method of reimbursement of sums paid in the event of withdrawal, the conditions of guarantees and after-sales services).

In addition, the trader must subsequently confirm all this information through durable medium (letter, e-mail or fax).

The consumer's right of withdrawal

The consumer has, at least throughout the EU, a period of 14 days to withdraw from the contract without having to give any reason or pay any penalty. The only costs that may be charged to the consumer are the costs of returning the goods or a proportional amount corresponding to the part of the service performed before the withdrawal.

It is necessary to inform (on any durable medium) the trader who will have to reimburse the amount already paid. The withdrawal period runs in principle, for services, from the day of the conclusion of the contract and for products, from the day of receipt of the product.