Do you often click ‘agree’ or ‘yes’ to website terms and conditions without realizing what you are agreeing to or what they are there for?
Many companies require visitors to agree to their website terms and conditions before making a purchase or using the service.
The purpose of such policies can vary depending on the website and company, but they often include important legal information and obligations the customers and users need to be aware of before they make any purchases.
Read on to learn more about what these policies mean and how they affect you as a visitor to a website or as a company.
Website Terms and Conditions – Why a Website Needs to Display Them
There are a few reasons why you need to include a terms and conditions page on your website. To start, they may help protect the company from legal issues down the line.
For users and customers, when you click ‘yes’ or ‘agree’, it is important to understand that you are entering into a legal contract with the website and by doing so you are agreeing to certain obligations and responsibilities.
The Australian Government’s official business website described website terms and conditions as a business essential and something that needs to be freely available and clearly displayed.
Terms and conditions pages are important for websites that provide services, sell products, or collect information from their visitors. The information in website terms and conditions should include prices, payment options, and terms, product information, information about product use, disclaimers, waivers, and refund or returns policies.
It is all the information that customers need to be aware of before making any purchase or using a service.
Website terms and conditions differ from website terms of use, which relate to the rules and regulations users need to agree on before being able to access or use a company’s website.
Are Website Terms and Conditions Really Necessary?
Yes, terms and conditions are important to have on your website. It is a legal contract between you and your visitors, which may help limit liability and protect the site owner from legal action should a customer or client decide to take legal action.
Businesses are also legally required to take all reasonable measures to bring the terms to the attention of their customers prior to purchase.
The website terms and conditions may vary depending on a number of factors, including the type of business you have or the nature of your website, and the products you sell. As a business owner or website manager, you are responsible for ensuring anyone these terms of use and relevant information are freely available.
The information that should be on your website terms and conditions includes:
- The customer’s acceptance of the terms
- Product price and description
- Product or service use information
- Service fee (GST inclusive or not?)
- Payment terms and payment methods
- Refund, returns, or exchange policy
- Intellectual property (IP) agreement
Who Can Draft Website Terms and Conditions?
As your website terms and conditions is a legal contract that holds key information, it is recommended for business owners and website managers to consider legal advice before publishing such policies.
A lawyer can help you draft your website terms and conditions, which is a vital step in providing legal protection to the business.