European Commission overhauls online shopping laws

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The European Commission wants to create an over-arching consumer protection law which it claims will cut costs and red tape for internet retailers.

The proposed Consumer Rights Directive would replace four existing EU Directives.

Commission's plan is designed to boost shopping across the 27 EU nations' borders. Though 150 million EU citizens shop online, it said, only 30 million shop across EU borders.

The proposed Directive would order retailers to provide clear information on prices and all charges before any purchase is made, would increase the protection available in cases of late or non-delivery and would bolster consumer rights in relation to refunds, cooling-off periods and guarantees.

Retailers will have 30 calendar days in which to deliver products, according to the new rules, and the seller bears all the risks inherent in sending a product.

If delivery does not happen or is late the consumer is entitled to a refund within seven days, the rules say.

Meglena Kuneva, the European Consumer Commissioner, said that hidden charges were "the new plague for consumers", and that the rules would make sure consumers always knew what they were going to pay.

The new rules would replace the Unfair Contract Terms Directive, the Sales and Guarantees Directive, the Distance Selling Directive and the Doorstep Selling Directive, the Commission said. "The proposed directive upgrades existing consumer protection in key areas where there have been large numbers of complaints in recent years – such as pressure selling," said a Commission statement.