TRADING standards chiefs in Warrington are warning people to be be wary when buying goods on the internet.
The council’s trading standards department is highlighting this important message once again following recent reports of fake tickets for events being sold on the internet.
The majority of online sales are legitimate but trading standards recommends you take the following steps when buying any goods from the internet:
Online, the person you are dealing with can be anyone, based anywhere. It’s easy to fake e-mail addresses, so make sure you know who you are dealing with before you give out personal information.
Wherever possible, try to shop with well-known, or personally recommended, retailers. Make sure you know the full postal address of the trader – be wary of dealing with any company which only gives you a post office box number.
Remember to shop around (just as you would in the high street) for the best prices and service. If you later find the same goods at a lower price elsewhere, there will usually be nothing you can do about it.
If it is appropriate to do so, try to pay for goods using your credit card. If the goods cost over £100 you may get extra protection under the Consumer Credit Act if things go wrong.
Giving out your credit card details online can be made safer if you:
*make sure that you know who the trader is;
*that you have the business address before giving the information;
*that the trader has an encryption facility which will scramble card details while in transit.
*While paying for items that you have purchased on the internet never send money to a stranger using a money transfer service.
*Don’t use money transfer services to pay for things including online auction purchases
*Be cautious; there are many scams on the internet. Be wary of any company that makes a product or performance claim that’s unlikely or just plain hard to believe. If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is
For more information on e-commerce and consumer rights visit www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/warrington
TRADING standards chiefs in Warrington are warning people to be be wary when buying goods on the internet.
Be wary when buying online
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
