Clarity of E-Commerce Pricing or Charges
Distance Selling Regulations (DSRs) cover the representation of fees and costs assigned against services or the prices charged for goods sold electronically. Outlining the numerous aspects of pricing goods or services, DSRs protect consumers from hidden fees or additional charges they were not informed of before commencing an electronic business transaction.
In relation to charges and pricing, DSRs are meant to shield consumers from escalating costs charged by unscrupulous vendors. The purpose of regulations covering pricing and charging is to create a fair market environment for all consumers. Compliance with DSRs is simply good business but there are numerous regulations to comply with.
The key points of DSRs covering Pricing or Charges state:
- Prices or charges should be stated clearly. Consumers should understand the full price they will pay for products or services including tax, delivery, storage and other charges;
- If additional charges might apply (in the instance of variable pricing of products or variations in delivery costs), those charges must be indicated clearly. How additional charges are calculated should also be indicated;
- Provide clear information on payment options and any relevant surcharges (e.g.: credit card surchages).
Stay Legal helps guide you through the maze of regulations. We break the key points of legislation or regulations into easy to understand plain English. In our experience, we find businesses tend to live up to their obligations when they clearly understand the language explaining those obligations
