Many companies advertising goods for sale over the internet are breaching trading standards regulations, according to a report from the Office of Fair Trading.

An inspection of 637 websites in the UK selling a range of products found more than half failed to meet basic legal requirements.

Trading standards inspectors surfed websites selling products such as books, music, toys, software and clothes and found 52% broke consumer-protection laws.

One of the most common failings was not providing information on refunds and exchange.

The OFT is working with trading standards authorities to ensure the websites are amended to comply with the law.

Consumers shopping over the internet are entitled to protection under the distance-selling regulations, which came into force last October.

This includes the right to clear information before placing an order, written confirmation of a purchase, a cooling-off period during which an order can be cancelled and a full refund if goods are not provided by an agreed date.

"Consumers are now entitled to clear information when they buy from home, whether over the internet, telephone, digital TV or by mail order," said John Vickers, director general of the OFT.

"Failure to tell consumers about their right to cancel and to a full refund is a breach of the new regulations and must be put right.

"It is in the interests of consumers and good businesses to make ways of buying from home as robust as possible."

The publication of the report coincides with the launch of an OFT campaign to raise consumers' awareness of their rights.

Advice is available on the OFT website and a new consumer information leaflet has been published.

Useful link
OFT guide to home shopping