We are still unable to receive e-mails but hope to have the problem resolved by end of Tuesday 5th July. If you have sent an e-mail expecting a reply since Monday 29th please phone (0114) 288 5951 or text 07944 90 80 32 and we will give you an alternative e-mail address. Our apologies for the inconvenience.

From 26 May 2011 you could be breaking the law if you use cookies – small text files used to track visitor movements – on your web site. The law is changing from ‘opt out’ to ‘opt in’ Currently, a web site visitor can turn off cookies in the browser settings, however changes to the Privacy and Communications Act means that consent now has to be obtained before cookies can be transferred to the user’s PC or Mobile.

This can be achieved with a tick box or registration form but failure to do this could make the web site owner liable for a fine and / or potential imprisonment under the new privacy laws. 

All businesses now need to check how their web site currently functions and whether cookies are enabled automatically. The vast majority of e-commerce sites will use cookies. More information and a pdf download can be obtained from www.ico.gov.uk 

UK business support Organisations including the FSB and IOD have voiced their concerns over the announcement from Local Government secretary, Eric Pickles, that the British Chambers of Commerce is to lead the setting up of a national network of Local Enterprise Partnerships at a cost of £300,000.

FSB Chief Executive, John Walker, is concerned that no formal consultation process has been undertaken prior to this announcement. He says,’ for the LEPs to be truly effective they need to represent a diverse range of business interests. Picking a single business organisation to run it in this way risks isolating both those businesses which are not a member of any membership body and those who are members of groups that haven't been included.'

The BCC will lead the new network which according to the government will encourage LEPS to share best practice and drive local economic growth. The network will also act as an advocate for the LEPs in Whitehall. However, business groups are concerned that more diverse regional and local economic issues will not be taken into account if just one national organisation represents millions of businesses across the whole of the country. 

On line retailers in the UK could be forced out of business if new EU legislation becomes law. The draft amendment to the consumer rights directive would mean that UK retailers would have to supply goods or services to any member state. Currently, on line retailers can choose where they ship their goods to - such as restricting sales to the UK. Under Article 22a  the EU want to remove this right and enable anyone living in the European Union the right to not only purchase from any EU based retailer but for the retailer to pay the cost of returning unwanted or faulty goods valued at €40 or more (Article 17)

The new directive, which could come into force as early as 2013, is aimed at harmonising consumer protection law across all 27 members. However, for many UK E-tailers the new regulations could mean a complete change in their business model with the possibility that many thousands who currently trade on E-Bay or Amazon for example could be forced out of business. 

The current Distance Selling Regulations allow merchants to refund the original transaction (including outward postage) with the consumer picking up the postage cost of returning the items. This means that the cost of a cancelled sale is shared between the retailer and the customer (both lose lose) Under the new legislation, the retailer will bear the cost of both way postage.

The new legislation could have a major impact for many on line retailers. The time taken to source international couriers who will collect from overseas customers (at reasonable cost), the increased cost of enhanced packaging and the knowledge that the goods could be returned at your total cost.