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Consumer Information - Consumer Rights - Consumer Protection Act

There are four main protections for consumers who shop on-line that will be coming into effect in 2003:

Disclosure Requirements
Contract Requirements
Cancellation Rights of the Consumer
Credit Card Charge Back Rights

1. Disclosure Requirements

Suppliers who sell their goods and services through the internet will be required to disclose certain information to the consumer before a contract is entered into. This information will be prescribed by regulation, and will include:

the supplier's name
a description of the goods
an itemized price list
additional costs
total amount of the contract
the currency being used
the method of payment
delivery arrangements
refund or cancellation policy
other restrictions

2. Contract Requirements

Suppliers must provide the consumer with a copy of the internet sales contract within 15 days of the contract being entered into. The regulations will prescribe the contract content requirements, and will include all of the information contained in the disclosure requirements, as well as the consumer's name or identifier, and the date of the contract.

3. Cancellation Rights

A consumer will have cancellation rights that arise out of the supplier's failure to meet disclosure, contract or delivery requirements. The regulations will state that consumers can cancel the contract

within 7 days if they do not receive the required disclosure, or if they didn't have an express opportunity to cancel or correct errors in the contract before entering into it;
within 30 days if the supplier does not provide the consumer with a copy of the contract as required;
any time before delivery of goods or services if the goods or services are not provided or commenced within 30 days from the date they were due to be provided or commenced.

4. Credit Card Charge Back Rights

When a refund has not been provided to a consumer as required, a consumer who has paid through a credit card can request that the credit card company reverse the credit charge. If the request to the credit card company meets the requirements of the Act, the credit card company must cancel or reverse the charge and any associated costs within 2 complete billing cycles or 90 days, whichever is shorter.

Experience Nova Scotia at novascotialife.com