It should be easier to withdraw from an online purchase

Most people know the feeling: The T-shirt looked perfect on the webshop, but once it arrives, it simply does not fit as well as expected.

That is why you have the right to withdraw from an online purchase. However, it can sometimes be difficult to understand exactly how to withdraw from a contract and how to notify the trader.

Online shops must now make it easier for consumers to exercise their right of withdrawal, for example by providing an easy-to-find withdrawal function on their website. This could be a button labelled "Withdraw from contract" or similar.

The most important thing is to notify the trader in time

Although it is becoming easier to withdraw from a purchase, it is still your responsibility to notify the trader before the deadline if you want to exercise your right of withdrawal.

The 14-day withdrawal period starts on the day you receive the goods. If you wish to withdraw from the purchase, you must notify the trader within those 14 days. Simply returning the goods is not enough if you have not also informed the trader that you wish to withdraw from the contract.

It is also a good idea to keep proof that you exercised your right of withdrawal within the deadline, such as an email, a receipt or a screenshot of the message you sent to the webshop.

Remember that there are exceptions

There are certain goods and services for which the right of withdrawal does not apply or may be limited. These include, for example, personalised goods such as made-to-measure clothing, flight tickets, hotel bookings, or sealed goods that cannot be returned for health or hygiene reasons once the seal has been broken.