Digital communications agency Redweb and law firm Ellis Jones have teamed up to develop a legal compliance audit to guide website owners through new legislation.
Now organisations can easily check their sites against the latest laws on data protection, return-of-goods and terms and conditions.
Poole-based Redweb’s Stuart Pool said: “Website owners now have to comply with a range of legislation, depending on the nature of the web site involved - and in particular there are several legal pitfalls for selling goods and services online.”
Solicitor Elizabeth Gilmour of Ellis Jones listed some of the most common legal problems in relation to websites:
- The collection of personal information through a website (including information collected on the ‘contact us’ pages) is not compliant with the Data Protection Act - often because excessive information is collected or insufficient explanation is given to individuals about how their information will be used.
- Website owners often fail to notify their data processing activities (i.e. their use of information about individuals) to the Information Commissioner - which is a criminal offence where it is necessary to notify.
- Consumers are entitled to return many goods they have purchased on the internet within seven days from receipt of the goods, but if the website does not explain this right then the period is extended to three months.
- Standard terms and conditions of business will often not apply unless they have been effectively brought to the attention of the customer before an order is placed.
- Ellis Jones and Redweb’s new service will review a website for a fixed price to determine any legal problems and provide practical advice on how best to avoid or overcome them.
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