Make Sure your Website is Legal
There are a growing number of legal requirements for websites in the UK and it is your responsibility to ensure that your website meets those requirements. A good website designer will be able to help you with them. A poor one probably won't know about them, or if they do, they may not have the skills to implement them.
Here are some examples:-
Information on Websites
Companies in the UK must include certain regulatory information on their
websites and in their email footers before 1st January 2007 or they will breach
the Companies Act and risk a fine - currently £1000.
Every company should list its company registration number, place of registration
and registered office address on its website as a result of an update to the
legislation of 1985. The information, which must be in legible characters,
should also appear on order forms and in emails. Such information is already
required on 'business letters' but the duty is being extended to websites, order
forms and electronic documents.
For further information click through on these links
http://www.out-law.com/page-7594
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2006/20063429.htm
Disability Discrimination Act
You must ensure that your website is accessible to blind and disabled users (just like your business premises needs to be).
Here are some quotes from the Disability Discrimination Act:-
“The Disability Discrimination Act makes it unlawful for a service provider
to discriminate against a disabled person by refusing to provide any service
which it provides to members of the public.”
“From 1st October 1999 a service provider has to take reasonable steps to change
a practice which makes it unreasonably difficult for disabled people to make use
of its services.”
“What services are affected by the Disability Discrimination Act? An airline
company provides a flight reservation and booking service to the public on its
website. This is a provision of a service and is subject to the act.”
“For people with visual impairments, the range of auxiliary aids or services
which it might be reasonable to provide to ensure that services are accessible
might include ... accessible websites.”
“For people with hearing disabilities, the range of auxiliary aids or services
which it might be reasonable to provide to ensure that services are accessible
might include ... accessible websites.”
For more information, read this excellent Article.