By Jason Lee
Tribune Media Services
The Internet is always open “seven days a week, 24 hours a day” and bargains can be found just about anywhere online. With a click of a mouse, you can buy a gift certificate, book a hotel, send flowers to a friend or purchase a new pair of shoes. But sizing up your holiday finds on the Internet is a little different from checking out items at the mall.
“Even though increasingly more holiday shoppers have confidence in making online purchases, basic trust in business issues such as privacy and ID theft are clearly still top concerns for many consumers,” says Steven Cole, president and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. “Survey results show that fears over the use and safety of personal information including credit card numbers, telephone numbers, and home and e-mail addresses are the main reasons online shoppers second-guess their decisions when making online purchases.”
If you’re buying items from an online retailer or auction website, OnGuardOnline.gov, an online consumer fraud Web site managed by The Federal Trade Commission, offers this advice to help you make the most of your holiday shopping experience:
Know who you’re dealing with. Anyone can set up shop online under almost any name. Confirm the online seller’s physical address and phone number in case you have questions or problems. If you get an e-mail or pop-up message while you’re browsing that asks for financial information, don’t reply or click on the link in the message. Legitimate companies don’t ask for this information via e-mail.
Know exactly what you’re buying. Read the seller’s description of the product closely, especially the fine print. Words like “refurbished,” “vintage,” or “close-out” may indicate that the product is in less-than-mint condition, while name-brand items with “too good to be true” prices could be counterfeits.
Know what it will cost. Check out Web sites that offer price comparisons and then, compare “apples to apples.” Factor shipping and handling “along with your needs and budget” into the total cost of the order. Do not send cash under any circumstances.
Pay by credit or charge card. If you pay by credit or charge card online, your transaction will be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. Under this law, you have the right to dispute charges under certain circumstances and temporarily withhold payment while the creditor is investigating them. In the event of unauthorized use of your credit or charge card, you generally would be held liable only for the first $50 in charges. Some companies offer an online shopping guarantee that ensures you will not be held responsible for any unauthorized charges made online, and some cards may provide additional warranty, return, and/or purchase protection benefits.
Check out the terms of the deal, like refund policies and delivery dates. Can you return the item for a full refund if you’re not satisfied? If you return it, find out who pays the shipping costs or restocking fees, and when you will receive your order. A Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule requires sellers to ship items as promised or within 30 days after the order date if no specific date is promised.
Keep a paper trail. Print and save records of your online transactions, including the product description and price, the online receipt and copies of every email you send or receive from the seller. Read your credit card statements as you receive them and be on the lookout for unauthorized charges.
Don’t e-mail your financial information. Email is not a secure method of transmitting financial information like your credit card, checking account, or Social Security number. If you initiate a transaction and want to provide your financial information through an organization’s Web site, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock icon on the browser’s status bar or a URL for a Web site that begins “https:” (the “s” stands for “secure”). Unfortunately, no indicator is foolproof; some fraudulent sites have forged security icons.
Check the privacy policy. It should let you know what personal information the Web site operators are collecting, why, and how they’re going to use the information. If you can’t find a privacy policy a‚Ǩ” or if you can’t understand it, consider taking your business to another site that’s more consumer-friendly.
(C) 2008, Tribune Media Services
