Since 2011 the European Parliament is discussing (beside other) a new solution for the so called 'Button Solution' which should help customers not falling in a 'trap' in buying goods but thinking it is free (see Abofallen).

With the directive 'Verbraucherrechterichtline 2011/83/EU' from the 25th October 2011 it is official that webshops have to state clearly, that if a customer is clicking the 'final' button he has to know that he is buying goods and has to pay for it.

Target for the implementation of this desicison for all European Countries is 2013.

What does this mean?

All countries inside the European Community shall implement this decision in national law.

Germany had many discussions long time before this, but with the decision of the 'German Bundestag' from the 2nd March 2012, all webshops located in Germany have to transform their shops to meet the new regulations.

As a first step, the last button before a customer has to pay the orders goods shall be renamed into something like 'Buy', or 'Buy ordered articles'.

With 1st June 2012 the buttons have to changed.

But this decision goes further. The second step is something called a 'summary' and shall be displayed clearyl above this final button.

This summary shall display (e.g.) type of goods, type of delivery, additonal costs, etc.

The whole decision has to be transformed into until the 13 December 2013.