Background and Overview Part 4: Miscellaneous and General
23.The Consumer Protection (Cancellation of Contracts Concluded away from Business Premises) Regulations 1987(7) (‘Doorstep Selling Regulations’) implement Council Directive 85/577/EEC, to protect the consumer in respect of contracts negotiated away from business premises. These Regulations give consumers the right to cancel contracts entered into at home or at a consumer’s workplace where the trader visited the home or workplace other than at the express request of the consumer.
24.In 2004 the Government publicly consulted on recommendations put forward by the OFT to improve the protection of consumers when buying in the home. The Government response to the public consultation was published in September 2006. This Act gives the Secretary of State the power to make provision for consumers to have the right to cancel contracts entered into following solicited visits to the consumer’s home or workplace. These rights are expected to be similar to those consumers currently have for unsolicited visits, under the Doorstep Selling Regulations.