The purpose of this thesis was to determine, how directive 2011/83/EU that came into force on 13 June 2014, affected Finnish distance selling. The preparation and adoption of the law on the European Union level began back in October 2011, from where it transitioned due to implement by the Member states by 13 December 2013. The Member states were to begin applying the law from 13 June 2014 onward. In Finland the directive was implemented by renewing chapter 6 of the consumer protection law, especially in regard to distance selling. The bill 1211/2013 on changes in the consumer protection law was ratified in Finland on 30 December 2013.

The study used qualitative and quantitative research methods. The theory part of the thesis consists of information gathered from legislation, literature, newspaper articles and the Internet. The opinions of business owners where gathered via a questionnaire, that was directed towards online businesses in Southwest Finland and Tampere region. The theory part introduces what distance selling is, the directive set by the European Union and the change in Finnish consumer protection law. The empirical part studies the effects of the changes in consumer protection law on the Finnish consumer and entrepreneur in distance selling.

As a result it can be stated that the new consumer protection law furthers the equality of consumers and entrepreneurs within the European Union member nations, without fundamentally impairing the position of the consumer. In cancelled orders the previously ambiguous “reasonable return period” is now clearly defined as 14 days. On the other hand, in the event of cancellation the consumer must be compensated in half the time. The entrepreneur benefitted from the change through the increased responsibility of the consumer. The consumer must now fill out the cancellation form and pay for the return expenses of the order, unless the entrepreneur has agreed to pay for them in the contract terms. The ability of the consumer to return a used product was received negatively by the entrepreneurs.