Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, CONSUMER PROTECTION NEWS: Proposal would require online retailers to provide total cost confirmation before order placement, (Dec 18, 2013)

Legislation, which would require the websites of online retailers to show consumers a final tabulation of all charges before the order is placed, has been proposed by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ).

“Before swiping a credit card at the register in a store, consumers see their final total cost,” Menendez said in an announcement released Monday. “The same principle should apply online.” Menendez noted that many websites already provide such information prior to order placement, but that there are others that do not. Consumers should not be surprised by the final cost of an online purchase, according to the lawmaker.

The proposed legislation, the Tallying of the Actual Liabilities (TOTAL) Act, would expand the FTC’s authority to give the consumer a right to a “confirm screen.” This legislation codifies standard, existing online industry practices, it was noted. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Committee on Consumer Policy’s Guidelines for Consumer Protection in the Context of Electronic Commerce already suggested online itemizing and notice.

News: ConsumerProtection FederalTradeCommissionNews