Security for Online Auctions

You should always take great care when paying for items online; this applies to any online shopping - not just auctions. Make sure you always take proper safety precautions, and follow our guidelines below:

• Make a note of the company's contact details, including a street address and landline telephone number if possible. Never rely on just an email address.
• When making a payment online, make sure that the web address of the page starts "https" before you enter any personal information. The 's' stands for 'secure'. There should also be a picture of a small padlock in the bottom right hand corner of your screen.
• Print out a copy of your order and a copy of any acknowledgement that you receive.
• If the items you are buying cost over £100, it may be worth paying by credit card. Any goods over £100 paid for by credit card will be protected by the Consumer Credit Act, which states that the credit card company is equally liable for any defects. If any problem should arise, you can claim EITHER from the trader OR from the credit card company.
• Always check your bank or credit card statements carefully to ensure the correct amount has been taken out, and has only been taken out once.
• Extra care should be taken when buying from a company based outside the EU. Although UK law may cover your contract, in practice it might be very difficult to get any money out of a company based abroad.
• Never give your credit card details to anyone who sends unexpected e-mails to you requesting this information.