Doubt Of Order

 » Brexit hits us in pocket if buying online  » Tips from experts over safe shopping

- Ailbhe Daly

MORE people than ever are shopping online – but Brexit has made the experience more complicated and expensive.

Consumers are being slapped with unexpected charges on their doorsteps and many are wondering what rights they have if something goes wrong.

As a result of the UK leaving the EU in recent weeks, online shopping from the UK has changed a lot for consumers in Ireland and it is more important than ever for people to know where they are buying from.

Thankfully, the experts at the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission have some tips for buyers about what they are entitled to and just how to make sure you stay safe while shopping online.

1 A website address ending in .ie is not necessarily a guarantee of an Irish-based business. It is now vital to check where a business is registered in its T&Cs page – even if it looks like it’s Irish.

If it is in the EU, you are entitled to know the trading address and what it is registered as because this may impact your own rights.

The consumer experts say: “If you cannot find these details, consider buying from an alternative website. If the registered address is within the EU, they are not only required to provide their trading name and address but the business must provide you with other important consumer protections.