Shopping
Over the past few years, more and more companies have started to sell their products online. The good news is that there is more choice than ever and you can buy products at any time of day. However if you have never bought anything online it can be confusing knowing where to start. Points to consider when shopping online include:
- Check that the website that you are buying from is legitimate - many sites may look good but make sure that there is a contact address and a telephone number so that you can contact customer service should you have any problems.
- Security - it is important to make sure that the site you are buying from uses the latest encryption technology to ensure that your payment details are completely safe. The easiest way to do this is to look for the padlock symbol. This should appear as soon as you are asked to enter your payment details.
- Consider making your payment with a credit card as these usually offer more protection should you encounter any problems.
- Find out if you are able to cancel your order within a specific time span.
- Make sure that you check whether there is a refund policy - and find out how long it remains valid for.
- Ensure that the company provides you with a delivery date.
- Have a look to see whether there is a complaints procedure in place.
- Find out how much you will be charged for post and packing.
- If possible print out a copy of your order - this way you have proof of purchase should any problems occur.
Resources
Office of Fair Trading
Citizens Advice Bureau