What To Be Wary Of When Shopping Online
Shopping online can be more convenient. Increasingly more people want to buy items online. However, while it can be an effective way to get cheaper items delivered directly to you, it is important that you do safely, so here are some tips to help you when shopping online.
Trust your instincts
The old cliché of “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is” is as applicable online as it is anywhere else. If it is not a trusted source or the feedback from the seller looks suspicious (for example, overly positive reviews with bizarre sentence structure) then go with your gut and don’t use that website.
One thing to look for is websites with “HTTPS” rather than “HTTP” as this will indicate if the website is secure. Also, do not click links on any emails you are sent.
Be careful ordering with your phone
It can be very easy to order items with your phone. However, they tend to be less secure than ordering from a computer as they don’t tend to have the same level of protection software. Be wary of any shortened URLs you don’t recognise and have password protection so that someone cannot easily access your information if your phone is stolen.
Regularly change passwords
Passwords should be changed on a regular basis, as this will allow you to protect your information more securely. Furthermore, using strong passwords (a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters) will reduce the risk of people hacking your device. Updating your browser on a regular basis is important to maintain protection on your device as well. There are also management tools online where you can either generate random passwords or having a single protected sign-in.
Check your credit card statement
If you order items with a credit card online, then it is possible to reclaim money under the Fair Card Billing Act. Unfortunately, it is not possible to do this with cash, cheques, or debit cards, so if you order online using a debit card, then you need to be extra vigilant.
It is also important to check electronic payment platforms to see what their cancellation policy is.
Check the refund/exchange policy
Sometimes when you order something online, it may not be what you want- it is important to keep hold of any receipts or packaging. If you are not sure, check the return, refund and exchange policy of the company before you place an order.
If you don’t receive the items you ordered when you pay with a credit card you can get the charge cancelled.
Report them
If there are any issues and the company refuses to co-operate, then you can report them by contacting an organisation, such as the local financial ombudsman or the Citizens Advice Bureau.
We can help
If you are having issues with buying items online and need advice, you can talk to us. Contact Larcomes Financial Services, and we will be happy to discuss your situation in more detail.