Why All The Fuss About Online Shopping?
I have a friend who recently purchased a home. Shortly after
that time, he discovered charges being added to his credit
cards. He isn't a big online shopper, so we ruled out the
possibility of his being careless with his information online
somewhere.
To make a long story short, after a police and credit card fraud
department investigation, he found out that his identity had
been stolen somewhere in the process of buying his property. He
wasn't anywhere near the internet when his identity was stolen.
But still it happened.
There are many people who are terrified of the very thought of
shopping online, but online shopping offers many benefits that
you won't find when shopping in a brick and mortar store or by
mail. For those hardcore shoppers, you can shop at three in the
morning, because the internet is always open - seven days a
week, 24 hours a day - and bargains are immeasurable online.
If you're one of those people who quivers at the thought of
shopping online, here are a few tips to ensure your online
shopping safety;
* Use a secure browser. This is the software that you use to get
around the Internet. Your browser should comply with industry
security standards, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). These
standards scramble the purchase information you send over the
Internet, helping to secure your transaction. Most computers
come with a browser already installed. You also can download
other browsers for free over the Internet.
* Shop with companies that you know. Anyone can set up shop
online under almost any name. If you're not familiar with a
merchant, ask for a paper catalog or brochure to get a better
idea of their merchandise and services. Also, determine the
company's refund and return policies before you place your
order. These should be posted on the company's Web site.
* Keep your password(s) private. Be thoughtful when you
establish a password, and don't give it to anyone. Avoid using a
telephone number, birth date or a portion of your Social
Security number. Instead, use a combination of numbers, letters
and symbols.
* 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 of
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. * Keep a
record of your transactions. Print a copy of your purchase order
and confirmation number for your own records. Also, the Mail and
Telephone Order Merchandise Rule covers online orders. This
means that unless the company states otherwise, your merchandise
must be delivered within 30 days; and if there are delays, the
company must notify you.
* Before paying your bills online, evaluate how the company
secures your financial and personal information. Most companies
explain their security procedures on their Web site. If you
don't see a security description, call or email the company and
ask them. Companies now have the ability to collect information
about you and potentially give or sell that information to
others. While the Internet can serve as a tremendous resource
for information, products, and services, you should be sure to
safeguard your privacy online by following these tips.
* Keep personal information private. Don't disclose personal
information - such as your address, telephone number, Social
Security number, or email address - unless you know who is
collecting the information, why they are collecting it, and how
they will use it. If you have children, teach them to check with
you before giving out personal - or family - information online.
* Look for a privacy policy on the site. Most companies post
their privacy policies on their Web site. This policy should
tell you what information is being collected on the Web site and
how that information will be used. Before you provide a company
with personal information, check its privacy policy. If you
can't find a policy, send an email or written message to the Web
site to ask about its policy and request that it be posted on
the site.
* Make decisions. Many companies give you a choice on their web
site as to how and whether your personal information is used.
These companies allow you to decline - or "opt-out" of having
personal information, such as your email address, used for
marketing purposes or shared with other companies. Look for this
choice as part of the company's privacy policy.
A. Warner.
Copyright 2006 Alexandra Warner All Rights Reserved