Internet shop sites get slap on wrists

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has taken a swipe at internet shopping sites for failing to provide sufficient information to their customers.

The ministry yesterday cited the results of an international survey of more than 700 internet retailers as evidence that not enough are reassuring customers that their rights and interests are being protected.

The survey, in which the ministry took part, showed more than half of the sites surveyed failed to outline their payment security mechanisms, 62 per cent provided no refund or exchange policies, 75 per cent had no privacy policy, 78 per cent failed to explain how to lodge a complaint, and 90 per cent failed to advise customers what laws applied to their transactions.

"With results like these, it's little wonder that many consumers may be reluctant to shop on the internet," said the ministry's general manager, Keith Manch.

The OECD is expected to release a set of guidelines related to e-commerce by the end of the year.

Other initiatives being looked at by international consumer agencies include "seal of approval" schemes.