Written question asked by Michael Fallon (Conservative) on Tuesday, 7 December 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 December 2010. It was answered by Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 13 December 2010 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Consumers: Protection

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward proposals for enhanced consumer protection against aggressive online sales marketing; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Consumers are protected against aggressive sales marketing by the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs). The regulations ban commercial practices which through the use of harassment, coercion or undue influence are likely to significantly impair the average consumer's freedom of choice in relation to goods or services, and thereby cause or be likely to cause him to make a choice he would not otherwise have made (eg purchase a good or service he would not otherwise have purchased). The CPRs apply as much to online sales marketing as they do to traditional marketing techniques. The CPRs are enforced by the Office of Fair Trading and local authority trading standards services.

Secondary information