U.S. State Law Protects Consumers Buying Online

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer signed into law this week a bill that gives consumers added protections when they make purchases over the Internet.

"Consumers have recognized the ease and convenience of shopping online, and it's imperative that state government provide protections as the Internet marketplace evolves," said New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, in a statement. The attorney general's office handles consumer issues.

"Consumer protection is a major part of Attorney General Cuomo's agenda," said Lee Park, Cuomo's spokesman. "He campaigned on it, and it's a major concern; as AG, one of his roles is to protect New York consumers.

Last year, the attorney general's Internet Bureau received more than 1,000 complaints from consumers who said they hadn't received merchandise they purchased online or had other problems with online retailers.

The new law, which was effective Monday, gives consumers who make online purchases the same protections as those who make purchases over the phone or through the mail, Park said.

Among those protections are that:

-- Companies cannot take orders for merchandise they anticipate cannot be shipped within 30 days.

-- The company must put its legal name, complete street address and details about refunds on all advertising and promotional materials.

-- If the company doesn't ship a product within 30 days, it must give the consumer the opportunity to cancel the order and receive a refund or order substitute merchandise.

-- Companies must keep records of complaints from consumers who said their merchandise was never shipped.

-- They must also keep complaints from people who charge that the company did not live up to various services advertised on its Web site.