Mail Order Goods and Distance Selling
Is mail order stuff any different?
Absolutely. It’s highly likely that at some point you will have bought something over the phone or on the internet, and unlike buying something in a shop, it’s a situation whereby you are not physically face to face with the supplier. What we are talking about here are the Distance Selling Regulations and it’s important to be clear on what they cover and whether you can benefit from the protection they offer UK consumers. Distance selling contracts are those which are concluded (you making your order and the retailer / e-tailer confirming your order) exclusively by ‘means of distance communication’. They cover mail order catalogues and all advertising literature (whether addressed or junk mail) and broadcasts communicated via post, email, the internet, fax, TV or telephone (including pre-recorded messages). If you have physically met face to face at any point, or if it is with a shop which doesn’t make a habit of selling in this way, you won’t be covered and should look to Sale of Goods legislation instead.
If you are fed up of junk mailings, phone calls etc, you should also check out the section on the Data Protection Act for more info.
