Tips For Buying Online

Why you should be cautious before buying anything online!

• Looks can be deceiving - just because the website looks professional, it doesn't mean the person or company behind it is professional.
• We have seen rogue websites display quality brands and products, even though they do not have the right to sell them. When a customer places an order for one of these, the merchant says that it is discontinued or out of stock and offer their alternative.
• We have also seen some websites offer products at a substantial discount and make up for it on delivery charges.
• Beware that some websites may use your information for third party marketing, so check if that they have a privacy policy.

Things to check before you make a purchase:

• All relevant contact details are easily available. An email address or mobile number is not enough - these can disappear just as quickly at they appear.
• Check that their company number and vat registration number are clearly displayed.
• Who authorizes their payment - is it an established and recognized bank?
• Check that https is displayed on the secure section of the payment information.
• Do they store your credit card information? If they do, who has access to it and how securely is it stored?

Other items to consider:

• Paying by credit card offers more security.

Your statutory rights are not affected when buying online, so have a look at the Citizens Information site for information on your statutory rights.

For a list of sites where furniture and products for your home can be bought online, see our directory.