| A distance contract is an agreement for the | | | | acting outside their trade or business. |
| provision of goods and services made between a | | | | The Distance Selling Directive does not apply to |
| supplier on the one hand and a consumer on the | | | | certain contracts, such as financial services |
| other under an organized distance sales scheme. | | | | agreements, contracts for the sale of land, |
| The supplier and consumer do not meet face to | | | | contracts involving perishable items and involving |
| face under distance selling contracts before the | | | | accommodation and transport. |
| contract is concluded, and therefore consumers | | | | The Directive states that before concluding a |
| cannot actually see the specific goods or services | | | | distance contract, the supplier must provide |
| to be provided. | | | | information details of his identity, address, the |
| Under distance selling contracts, the supplier uses | | | | nature of the goods and services, their price and |
| a means of distance communication such as via | | | | delivery costs, if applicable. The information must |
| the internet at all stages in the formation of the | | | | be given clearly to the consumer, or in the case |
| contract. Other means of distance | | | | of e-commerce contracts should be displayed on |
| communications include e-mail, mail order, post and | | | | the supplier’s website. The supplier is also |
| telephone sales. | | | | obliged to provide written confirmation of the |
| The Distance Selling Directive binding on all | | | | above terms and information concerning the |
| European Union states, once incorporated into | | | | contract between the parties in good time. This |
| domestic legislation aims to protect consumers | | | | can be effected through a confirmation e-mail |
| against the risks involved in distance and | | | | sent by the supplier to the consumer. |
| e-commerce selling. The terms of the Directive | | | | The parties are free to agree the time period for |
| will not apply however, where the contract is | | | | performance of the distance contract, though if |
| concluded between seller and consumer face to | | | | no date is specified, under the Directive the |
| face. The Directive will bind suppliers of goods and | | | | supplier must perform the contract within thirty |
| services who act in a professional or business | | | | days of the date of the order. |
| capacity. Consumers are defined as persons | | | | |