Australian businesses using the Internet as a sales point have been told to review their sites following disturbing findings of an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission survey.
"More than 50 per cent of the Australian sites surveyed which sold goods or services and contained online terms and conditions attempted to disclaim consumers' warranty rights or limit liability", Deputy ACCC Chair, Ms Louise Sylvan, said today.
The survey examined the top 1000 Australian consumer websites. It identified and examined 265 transactional sites that contained online terms and conditions.
"The results raised issues of concern, particularly regarding the level of disclosure of statutory warranties and conditions.
"The ACCC has now issued a paper, Shopping Online, on the survey and urges businesses to assess the terms and conditions on their websites against the issues raised in the paper.
"Australian businesses must remember that the rights conferred on consumers in other methods of retailing apply equally on-line.
"Traders on line must ensure that that their sites 'shape-up' to the requirements of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and not restrict consumers' rights.
"Fair treatment of customers is a key essential in ensuring return business", Ms Sylvan said. "Traders should keep this in mind when designing or re-vamping sites".
"To further assist consumers, and to remind businesses, the ACCC has also issued a flyer on consumers' rights when shopping online", Ms Sylvan said.
Copies of Your Online rights are available from the ACCC Infocentre Line on 1300 302 502.
Ms Sylvan was speaking at the NT Expo in Darwin today.