What precautions should I take while shopping online?

What precautions should I take while shopping online?

• If you ordered Christmas presents on the Internet and they did not arrive on time, causing you to buy replacement items at short notice, what rights would you have?

• If you are shopping online or via television, or from a catalogue, magazine or advertisement, you have rights under the Distance Selling Regulations.

• Allow enough time for the company to process and send your order.

• Remember, the seller has up to 30 days to deliver your goods unless you agree something else.

• You also usually have the right to cancel your order within seven days of receiving the goods.

• Do not judge a company by its website. It’s easy to create a website that looks good, but a good website doesn’t mean the company itself is good. Try to get a personal recommendation if you have not used the company before.

• Make sure you know who you are dealing with. Check that you know the company’s name and full postal address and who will pay the cost of returning unsuitable goods.

• Shop around for the best deals and check the seller’s terms and conditions, especially the small print. Watch out for additional postage and packaging costs and remember that, if you buy goods from outside the EU, you may be liable for customs duty and VAT.

• Use your credit card, not your debit card, for items that cost more then £100. This gives you extra rights if things go wrong. Never send your credit card details by email.

• If you are buying on the Internet, make sure the website is secure. Look for symbols such as the closed padlock. You will find this at the bottom right corner of a site, if it is a secure one.

• Whoever you buy from, make sure you keep full details of what you have ordered and the dates of your order.

• This means that, if the goods do not arrive or they are not what you ordered, you have evidence to help with your complaint.