Shop too late and risk an unmerry Christmas

During the festive season last year, the government's consumer watchdog received thousands of complaints about online orders being delayed or failing to turn up, it has been revealed.

Consumer Direct said consumers lodged 4,160 complaints between 1 December 2007 and 31 January 2008 regarding problems with web orders.

With predictions that shoppers will spend more than £13bn online in the run up to Christmas, with sales reaching a peak on the 8 December, the consumer advice service is urging consumers to shop early online this year.

The law states that - unless otherwise agreed - online retailers have 30 days to deliver your goods, said Michele Shambrook, operations manager for Consumer Direct. If shoppers need their goods to arrive before Christmas, they should make sure this is guaranteed by the retailer.

"Consumers have additional rights when shopping online which in most cases allow you to change your mind and cancel your order for up to seven working days after delivery so check your order when it arrives. If you decide to cancel, online retailers are obliged to refund the full cost plus the original delivery charge, although you may have to pay the cost of return," she said in a statement.

Consumer Direct is urging shoppers to check when shopping online that there is a geographic and email address for the retailer as required by law. It also suggests shoppers use sites that are members of the Internet Shopping Is Safe trustmark scheme.