Cross Border Shopping within the EU

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When a consumer purchases an item while on holiday in the European Union (EU), or orders items over the Internet from an EU trader, they are signing up to a contract that may come under laws which differ to those they would get if you purchased the item from a UK trader.

The aim of the network is to provide advice and support to any consumer that has a complaint or dispute to resolve within the EU. In order to do that, the ECC that is contacted by the consumer, works together with the ECC of the country where the case originated.

Frequently, ECC-Net helps consumers who have a complaint to reach an agreement via Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). ADR schemes are out-of-court dispute resolution mechanisms conducted by a neutral third party such as a mediator, conciliator or arbitrator.

By providing direct feedback on specific issues of concern to consumers, the ECC-Net also provides valuable input for the European Commission on consumer policy issues.

For further information please see their web site at www.ukecc.net

UK ECC can also be contacted by phone 08456 04 05 03 and by email at ecc@tsi.org.uk.

Contact information

• email: ts.es@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• phone: 0141 840 3184
• fax: 0141 842 5457
• call in or write to us at:
  Trading Standards
  Environmental Services
  Renfrewshire House
  Cotton Street
  Paisley
  PA1 1UG