Minister Micheál Martin Launches NCA Information Campaign On Distance Selling, Doorstep Selling And Scams

New Interactive Website Launched

Dublin, 7^th November 2006 - Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin today officially launched the National Consumer Agency’s newest consumer information campaign.  The campaign is designed to inform consumers of their rights regarding distance selling and doorstep selling. It also alerts consumers to potential scams and advises them on how to avoid them.  Distance selling is any transaction where there is no simultaneous physical presence of the supplier and consumer.  Shopping online, on TV, by phone (including through text messages), by fax or by mail order all constitute distance selling.

The campaign, which represents a major public information initiative from the National Consumer Agency, is designed to highlight consumers’ rights when they make purchases other than in a shop, be that by mail order, by telephone, using the internet or even at their front door. Issues highlighted include informing consumers that they have seven days to change their mind after buying online, from a catalogue or by telephone, advising them to make purchases only from known or trusted websites and reminding consumers that, particularly in these days of telemarketing and cold calling, it is possible to enter into a legally binding contract even without signing something, so they should be particularly vigilant in ensuring that they receive and read terms and conditions from distance sellers.

The campaign will also target consumer awareness of scams, providing pointers on how to spot and deal with a potential scam. Consumers will be reminded in particular to be vigilant about not sharing their financial information or about requests to send money in order to receive a prize, especially relating to a competition they didn’t enter!

The campaign will run until Autumn 2007 and encompasses print, radio, outdoor advertising and television. A key element of the campaign involves highlighting the brand new interactive NCA website consumerconnect.ie which the Minister also launched today. Consumers can also locall 1890 432 432, the NCA helpline.

The NCA devised the campaign on the back of market research^[1] and consumer organization^[2] findings it commissioned, which showed that the area of distance selling is of major concern to Irish consumers, who are not aware either of the pitfalls around distance selling or of the legislation that protects them. The campaign is designed to highlight key issues and drive consumers to the website which contains comprehensive information on these topics.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Martin said, "This Government established the National Consumer Agency to act as a forceful advocate for the consumer and to ensure that the consumer's voice is heard.   An educated consumer is an empowered consumer.  I would encourage all consumers to log on to the NCA website to ensure that they are fully briefed on all the issues surrounding distance selling, doorstep selling and scams.”

Ann Fitzgerald, Executive Chair of the National Consumer Agency and Director of Consumer Affairs said, “As consumers, we shop increasingly by phone, online or from catalogues. More and more, we are approached in our homes with opportunities to purchase products and services. Research shows that consumers are unaware of their rights in these areas and can enter into contracts without realising it. Also, many of them are unaware that there is considerable legislation that protects them even though they may not have made a purchase in a shop or where they are not face to face with the vendor.

“We hope that this campaign will help people appreciate the positives, the pitfalls and the protection that they have open to them when engaging in distance selling. Our new interactive website which we’re launching today contains everything a consumer needs to know on this area.”

The NCA’s newly launched website, www.consumerconnect.ie is the most comprehensive of its type and contains extensive information on areas of interest to consumers. It is a fully interactive website, allowing people to file complaints, test their knowledge of consumer issues through quizzes and make enquiries of the NCA’s consumer experts.

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For further information please contact:

 Pippa Halley/Martin Mackin

Q4 Public Relations

Tel: 01 475 1444

Mob: 087 814 5030