how to shop online for christmas safely
1. Always use a credit card
if something goes wrong, the credit card company is “jointly and severally” liable with the retailer. This covers anything costing between £100 and £30,000 that you buy using your credit card.
In practice this means that if goods fail to turn up or are faulty you should first try to get your money back from the company from which you made the purchase. However, if you are unsuccessful or the firm has gone out of business, you have the right to reclaim your money from the card issuer.
2. Use credit cards that offer an extended warranty
Using the right credit card could mean you are protected against theft or damage or get free extended warranty cover.
3. Check if your credit card offers an internet guarantee
It means you are covered against the cost of fraudulent transactions online, although the exact terms and conditions vary between issuers.
4. Not all debit cards provide dispute procedures if things go wrong.
Debit cards generally do not offer internet protection, purchase protection or extended warranties. Neither are your transactions covered by Section 75, because purchases using debit cards are not strictly speaking credit arrangements.
Although both Visa and Mastercard now have arrangements so that disputed debit card payments can be investigated, not all banks have followed suit, and such arrangements are certainly not available if you use a Maestro card.
5. Check your computer before and after buying online
Ensure that your computer is protected by up-to-date anti-virus software, that you are using the latest versions of your operating system and web browser and that you have a personal “firewall” – software to repel hackers – installed and turned on.
Always log out after shopping online, especially if you share your computer with other people.
6. Check out the company you are buying from
Make sure the company has a geographical address, as well as one in cyberspace, and a landline telephone number, and keep a record of these details – especially if the firm is based abroad. Do not assume that an internet company is based in Britain just because its web address has “com” in it.
Although shopping from overseas websites is relatively safe, it may be difficult to enforce your contract if things go wrong. It is generally better to use retailers and services you know about – or ones that have been personally recommended to you.
7. Check terms and conditions relating to payment, delivery and cancellation rights
There should be a list of terms and conditions on every retailer’s website. If you cannot find them, it’s probably better to shop elsewhere. However, when you buy online there is usually a seven-day “cooling off” period during which you can cancel your order.
8. Be security conscious
When making online payments, check that the website is secure, as indicated by a padlock icon displayed in the browser frame on your computer screen (normally at the bottom). Also check that the “http” web prefix has changed to “https”, where the “s” stands for secure.
Do not use the same password on every website. Pick three or four and vary them. You should never write down passwords or personal identification numbers (Pins), and never divulge them in response to unsolicited emails.
9. Register your cards with “Verified by Visa” or “Mastercard SecureCode” to give an extra level of protection.
These schemes require you to verify an additional password, which protects against your card being used by someone else. They also provide you with a code to confirm that the firm you are dealing with is known to the credit card company.
10. Keep copies of all paperwork
If there is a dispute, you will need to have all the evidence and proof. Print off any emails you might receive relating to your purchase, such as your confirmation order or advice of delivery dates.
adi is an internet entrepreneur owner of giftsideasforchristmas.com