My local trading standards department in the UK says merchants must give a postal address on their website if soliciting money from British consumers. But when it comes to upholding the law they drag their feet. And how can they enforce against a foreign entity? Collecting payment is dead-easy, for sellers, via PayPal or plastic cards. But buyers seem to have little protection, especially when dealing with a company which refuses to give out even the territory from which it operates. Thankfully I haven't been stung yet but I have been fairly circumspect in checking the bona fides of traders before handing them payment.

Have any readers here got any joy from their local trading standards department (in the West) in resolving a dispute, or at least getting merchants to supply a mailing address when none is proffered on their website? Thanks.

My trading standards man just clarifed with me that only the EU (European Union) in covered by the mail-address-on-website requirement. They have the power to enforce through trading standards departments of the member states.

But outside of the EU -- and that means Isle of Man and British Channel Islands too -- it is absolutely 'buyer beware' ... no protection at all ! Except for purchases made over £100 by credit card, recently upheld by law in a case 'abroad', and even then you would have to fight hard to get any redress.

So welcome to cyberspace: fraudsters' charter and free-for-all !