A consumer rights specialist has divulged a number of habits online shoppers should avoid – but many of us are guilty.
The convenience of internet shopping, free from bustling crowds and the absence of forceful sales pitches, offers numerous advantages but it also carries its own risks.
Online spending can expose people to potential scams, fraud and data breaches. Considering these hazards, a Which? expert has offered five tips she swears by for safer digital purchases.
The popular video, posted on TikTok by the consumer organisation, was accompanied by the caption: “These are the five online shopping rules that our consumer rights experts live by.”
Addressing viewers directly, the specialist said: “Five things I would never do when shopping online as a consumer expert.”
Reconsider your nominated safe place
“I would never select a safe place or a nominated neighbour for your delivery if you’re not at home. Giving a courier these permissions drastically reduces your rights if something goes wrong and it will be harder to get a refund or replacement from the retailer.”
This advice is especially pertinent for individuals who are frequently away from home due to work commitments.
Use your credit card
She also emphasised the importance of utilising credit cards during checkout: “I would never pay for goods costing £100 or more with a debit card if credit card is an option. With a credit card, you get extra protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act which makes your provider jointly liable with the retailer if something goes wrong.”
The Consumer Credit Act of 1974 was established “for the protection of consumers” and introduced “a new system, administered by the Director General of Fair Trading, of licensing and other control of traders concerned with the provision of credit, or the supply of goods on hire or hire-purchase, and their transactions, in place of the present enactments regulating moneylenders, pawnbrokers and hire-purchase traders and their transactions; and for related matters”.
Don’t go for extended warranties
On the topic of extended warranties, she advised caution: “I would never buy an extended warranty from the retailer. They rarely offer good value for money and Which? research found that one-off repairs can be cheaper than the cost of a warranty.
“Plus, your faulty goods rights under consumer law cover you for up to six years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and up to five in Scotland.”
Do your research
When it comes to making purchases, she recommended two key strategies: never buying anything before shopping around for the cheapest price and always checking for discount codes.
She recommended using price comparison sites like Google Shopping, Price Runner, or Price Spy.
Be mindful of the returns policy
Lastly, she reminded shoppers to always review the returns policy of a retailer before completing a purchase because some companies charge for returns. These charges are not always “made clear” to customers on the product pages or at the checkout.