Help
Check the store
If you’re not familiar with an online store, there are a few signs you can look for first – an email address and a phone number of someone you can speak to. There are also usually some terms and conditions. And it’s a good idea to contact the store first and ask for some company background.
One final check is to click on their ‘Checkout’ button. Any site that asks for personal details like payment information should do it from a secure page – look in the address bar and if you see the letters https//: then you know it’s a secure page.
Check the seller
Some retailers often use classified ads and auction sites to sell online. If you have problems, your legal rights with these sites may not be the same as they would be if you were dealing with a company. So try to look for things that tell you you’re buying from someone genuine – they’re prepared to tell you when your items are being posted, how much the postage will be, look for their feedback ratings, things like that.
Third party payment
Paypal and Googlecheckout are very popular ways of using a third party to make a payment when you’re shopping online. You pay them, then they pay the retailers, so you don’t give out any of your card details direct. However, it’s a good idea to check their terms and conditions, because the protection you receive isn’t the same as paying yourself.
Password protection
Whenever you’re asked to register for a site, try to choose a different password, so that if a fraudster gets hold of the password, they’ll only have it for the one site, not all of them. And keep your passwords secret.
Check the delivery and returns policies
These will tell you what you’re actually paying for – such as the delivery costs, how it’s delivered, what the returns policy and refund rules are. Don’t forget, when you buy something from outside the UK with your Barclaycard, you are considered to be importing, so you may be liable for the import duty and VAT.
EU law protects you against your Barclaycard being used fraudulently if you’re buying from someone based in the EU. You also usually have at least seven days to cancel an order and request a refund from an EU retailer. Write down the contact phone number and order number or email address.
Check the website is secure
Use the most up to date browser that you can, and check that the website address (in the address bar at the top of every internet browser) starts with https:// - if there’s no ‘s’ it’s not secure.
Save your records
Just as you should keep your till receipts in case you need to return something, keep a record of your online transactions. So if you’re sent a confirmation email, or a delivery note, don’t delete it till your goods have arrived.