- Shop around. That great deal might well be on offer somewhere else - and cheaper.
- Use retailers and services you know about - or ones that have been personally recommended to you.
But there are also extra things to remember when shopping online:
- A company might have a great website, but that doesn't mean it's law-abiding.
- Make sure you know the trader's full address - especially if the company is based outside the UK. The internet makes buying from abroad easy so it’s important you know your rights.
- Don't assume an internet company is based in the UK just because its web address has 'uk' in it - check out the physical address and phone number.
- Take into account the shipping, postage and packing costs. Weigh them up against the parking and travelling costs you would have to pay if you went to the high street.
- Although shopping from overseas websites is relatively safe it may be difficult to enforce your contract if things go wrong. If the item or service is over £100 then consider paying by credit card.
- Look for websites that have a secure way of paying (known as an encryption facility) - these show a padlock at the bottom of the screen when you are filling in the payment details.
- Check whether the company has a privacy statement that tells you what it will do with your personal information.
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