Web hallmark replacement imminent

TrustUK, the government-backed online hallmark, is on the verge of agreeing a replacement for the Which? Web Trader ecommerce accreditation scheme.

Just one week after Computing stepped up our campaign to establish a common standards mark to certify transactional web sites, we can reveal that Trust UK is close to signing a deal with a third party that will issue quality seals to approved web traders.

'We are talking unofficially with an organisation that we clearly have a synergy with,' said Robert Dirskovski, TrustUK secretary. 'We hope to be able to offer a scheme to web traders within about a week.'

Negotiations are ongoing, and Dirskovski hopes to attract around half of the 2,700 companies that achieved accreditation under Which? Web Trader.

Phil Battison, European managing director of internet payment specialist WorldPay welcomed Computing's efforts to promote online accreditation.

'I think there's a need for a dominant, almost monopolistic player,' he said. 'Too many of these organisations and the consumer is bamboozled. This is a great idea.'