Businesses that advertise their goods or services online must provide the following information on their websites to comply with the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002:
- name
- geographical address (a PO Box address is not acceptable)
- company registration number
- registered address
- details of any registration or authorisation schemes to which you belong
- details of any professional bodies or trade organisations to which you belong
- VAT number (if applicable)
Businesses that are actually conducting e-commerce must, additionally, provide the following:
- terms and conditions that are readily accessible, fair and meaningful
- any relevant codes of practice/conduct and how they can be accessed
- technical means by which any input errors can be corrected
- an outline of the technical steps to follow to conclude a contract
- an indication of languages offered in which a contract can be concluded
- whether a record of the contract is kept by the seller and if this is accessible to the buyer.
Furthermore, any commercial communications must clearly: be identifiable as commercial communications; provide the terms of any promotional offers; identify on whose behalf the communication is being sent.