Shop with companies you know, or ones that have a good reputation
Don’t give your personal details, bank account numbers or credit card details to a company you don’t know or haven’t checked out. We are seeing an increasing number of customers paying for goods and services that they have not received.
Be especially careful of:
- Websites selling nutritional health and well-being products, including teeth whitening
- Websites selling fake luxury goods
- Websites selling one item but then enrolling you in another offer and setting up a recurring transaction on your behalf
Always read everything on the page to make sure you understand what you’re buying. In particular, remember to scroll down the whole page to see the detail of any other offer.
Check where the company is based
When buying from a company based in Europe you may still be protected by some of your consumer rights under UK law, regardless of which country's laws are said to be applicable in the contract. If something goes wrong when buying from a company based outside Europe, it’s likely to be more difficult or expensive to put things right.
Be careful when buying from private sellers or by auction
Just as with offline trading, be especially careful when you buy from a private seller as opposed to a business. If something goes wrong, your legal rights may not be the same as when you are dealing with a business. Always make sure you know who you’re buying from so you can make an informed choice.
If you use online auction sites, be suspicious of anyone who asks to be paid in a way that’s not normal for the site you’re using – for example, in cash.