Is your website compliant?
24/03/2011
By Fiona Dott, Solicitor in Corporate & Commercial
Strict regulations require a raft of information to appear on every business' website. Non-compliance can lead to various sanctions, including fines for your business and in certain circumstances, for each of its directors and officers. A non-compliant business could also be liable for damages to a customer and generate unwanted negative publicity.
A quick five minute audit, using our compliance checklist below, could help to identify any concerns.
Ask yourself:
- Does your website clearly show your business' name and address?
- If you trade as a private limited company, does your website include the company's registered name, number, address and place of registration?
- If you trade online, does your website include:
- contact details (such as an email address) where your business can be contacted rapidly and in a direct and effective manner?
- your business' VAT identification (in full 'GB' form)?
- a summary page enabling the customer to identify and correct input errors prior to placing an order and being contractually bound?
- Have your online terms and conditions been reviewed in the last two years to take account of industry changes, OFT guidance and new case law?
- Has your privacy policy been reviewed in the last 12 months to take account of the new Information Commissioner's guidance on protecting data online?
- Are your website terms of use up-to-date and do they include adequate disclaimers?
If you think the answer is no to any of these questions, please email Fiona Dott to explore how I can help you undertake a more thorough audit of your website.