These days the majority of us shop online, this can be quicker, easier and sometimes cheaper than brick and mortar stores but it is not without problems.

Fake reviews, hidden fees and confusing safety labels and lead to you buying products you did not expect and so the Government is carrying out both research and public consultation into the matter. 

The Government aims to improve transparency and fairness for customers as they shop, starting with some of the basics such as cracking down on hidden fees in products such as train tickets, event tickets and food deliveries. 

Research so far has shown that in entertainment this 'drip pricing', where the final price at the checkout is higher than the original product you clicked with extra, but necessary fees occurs in more than half of entertainment providers and hospitality venues and across transport and communication it is higher again at a whopping 72% so it's clear that some change needs to happen.

The Department for Business and Trade currently has proposals to reform the 'price marking order' which will require traders to display the final selling price and wherever appropriate the final unit selling price (eg for food, price per item or per kilogram/litre) in a much clearer way. This should help consumers compare products more easily, and not feel stung when they reach the checkout. 

This month the Government has extended the use of CE marking and announced a review into fire safety regulations, which again is aimed at helping consumers who are purchasing online (and offline) ensure products bought are safe to use and cracking down on imports which do not adhere to the same safety standards. 

On top of this work, over the next few weeks the Government intends to launch a consultation on measures to stop fake reviews, this may be trickier to resolve but the Government is open to suggestions to ensure that individuals making purchases online are better informed.