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www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 25 Do you shop online from the UK? Your consumer rights could be affected by Brexit Áine Carroll, Director of Communications and Policy, Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) looks at the potential impact of Brexit on your consumer rights when shopping online. By Áine Carroll, Director of Communications & Policy with the CCPC Our website www.ccpc.ie has dedicated information on the impact Brexit could have on your consumer rights. We also have information on extra taxes and charges you may need to pay if you are ordering on- line from a country outside the EU. With 24/7 opening hours, 365 days a year and endless choice, it is easy to see why buying online has become so popular. And the availability of a huge range of goods from UK-based websites means that a lot of consumers in Ireland buy from UK-based traders. In fact, the CCPC's latest research found that 72% of us have bought online from a company based in the UK in the last two years. 29% of consumers reported that they have done so more than 10 times in the last two years. When you shop online from an EU-based retailer you have specific consumer rights. When the UK leaves the EU, these protections will no longer be guaranteed and so there are potential changes ahead for online shoppers. With still much uncertainty ahead, what do you need to know if you if you are one of the many consumers in Ireland that buy online from UK retailers? One of the main rights consumers have when we buy online from an EU based retailer is the right to change our mind and receive a refund within a certain timeframe. The CCPC's research found that 40% of people who had bought from a UK website had returned items. When asked about their reason for returning items, the research found that a large number of consumers in Ireland exercise their con- sumer rights under EU law – 55% reported they returned a purchase because the product did not fit or suit their needs and 16% said that they had changed their mind. In the event of a no deal Brexit, these rights may not be guaranteed. So what should you do? Whether you are a frequent or occasional online shopper - before you buy, check where the business is located. If it's in the EU, you have specific rights under EU regulations. Read the terms and conditions on the website – be sure to check in particular the returns policy and see if you can return goods if you change your mind. Also check to see if there are costs for returning items. It's also really important to know where the website is located as if it's outside the EU, you may have to pay certain taxes and duties including customs duty, excise duty and VAT. Tips for shopping online • Buy from a reputable website or one with positive cus- tomer feedback. Check if any of your friends have used the site and check online reviews. Check the physical location of the business, remember EU protections only automatically apply when you buy from a business based in the EU • When your order arrives check it straight away to make sure it's ok and that you are happy with it. • Make sure that you leave plenty of time for your order to arrive. • Use a secure method of payment, such as a debit or credit card. Never send cash or use a money wiring service because you will have no recourse if some- thing goes wrong. • Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. If you see something significantly cheaper on a website than everywhere else, be wary. If you're not sure if a site is selling genuine products, look for a list of authorised sellers. • Remember you may have to pay certain taxes and duties including customs duty, excise duty and VAT, if you are buying from traders outside the EU.

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