ABSTRACT
This chapter has looked at two forms of marketing, doorstep and distance selling. Doorstep selling was the subject of one of the first European Community (EC) Directives dealing with consumer protection. The policy is far more influenced by a desire to give the consumer an opportunity to assure themselves of the quality of the goods. Thus the right of cancellation can be seen as an extension of the policy of ensuring that the consumer makes a fully informed choice. The Distance Selling Directive required the consumer to be protected against fraudulent use of his payment card. Certain protection already existed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. There is no protection of advance payments, but there is a very real danger to consumers' money in distant selling contracts where pre-payment is required. The rules as to when property passes had frequently resulted in goods supplied under distance sales contracts being at the consumer's risk, at least once they are despatched.
