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How can you check whether an online shop in Norway is legitimate?

Contact details, organisation number, warning signs and payment.

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Short answer

Online shops in Norway must state their address, email and organisation number, and you can check the company in the Brønnøysund Register Centre's company search. Be wary of shops with only a contact form, poor or machine-translated text, or unusually large discounts. Pay by credit card if you have to pay in advance.

a shield icon with a check mark next to a tent and a small no-campfire sign on a green hillside

Why

  1. According to the Norwegian Consumer Authority (Forbrukertilsynet), the Right of Withdrawal Act requires online shops to give their geographical address, email and organisation number.
  2. Forbrukertilsynet advises you to be critical if the only way to contact a shop is a contact form, and treats poor language or machine-translated text as a sign of an unreliable shop.
  3. When you buy online, you can normally change your mind within two weeks of receiving the goods, and this right applies to purchases from EEA countries.

Details

A fake shop may use a web address that combines a well-known brand or product with words like 'cheap' or 'sale', so compare the prices with other shops and search online for other customers' experiences. If an item never arrives or turns out to be fake, contact your bank as well as the seller, since you may be entitled to a refund. If the bank says no, you can complain to the Norwegian Financial Services Complaints Board (Finansklagenemnda).

Tip

Before you pay, search for the company name or organisation number in the Brønnøysund Register Centre's company search, and use a credit card rather than a debit card if you must pay in advance.

What may differ

If the shop is based in another country, Forbruker Europa can give advice and help, and the Norwegian right of withdrawal applies to purchases from EEA countries.

People also ask

  • How do I know if a Norwegian online shop is safe?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check the Norwegian Consumer Authority (Forbrukertilsynet) before you buy.

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