The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013
The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2023, protect consumers, who shop by phone, mail order, or the Internet or digital TV to make the purchase. The protection offered by these regulations relate to the right of the consumer to receive clear information about the goods and services, to be provided with full details of the identity of the trader, be aware of all costs, including taxes and charges, be provided with information relating to delivery charges/details of delivery before he/she purchased the product. Confirmation must be in writing.
The Regulations are particularly significant during the Covid Pandemic, when the customer may be purchasing a vehicle, online from a vehicle dealership, without attending the sales department in person. The Regulations allow for a cooling off period of 14 calendar days, during which the customer can withdraw from the contract. At the time of agreeing the purchase, the customer must be informed of the 14 day right to cancel.
If the customer is not informed of the right to cancel, they will have up to 12 months, after delivery of the vehicle, to cancel the order. Moreover, the customer is not required to provide a reason for cancelling. Clearly, “not in person purchases” have a potential to backfire at a later date. Dealerships, should be aware of the anomalies surrounding the Regulations and should seek advice before entering into a contract.
For further information contact AAL