{"id":7785,"date":"2023-01-02T12:03:15","date_gmt":"2023-01-02T01:33:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adelaideprivatewealth.com.au\/protect-yourself-and-know-your-rights-when-you-shop-online\/"},"modified":"2023-01-02T12:03:15","modified_gmt":"2023-01-02T01:33:15","slug":"protect-yourself-and-know-your-rights-when-you-shop-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adelaideprivatewealth.com.au\/protect-yourself-and-know-your-rights-when-you-shop-online\/","title":{"rendered":"Protect yourself and know your rights when you shop online"},"content":{"rendered":"
Online shopping can be a convenient way to buy the things you want. Know how to protect yourself online, and what to do if you don\u2019t get what you pay for.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Not sure if you can trust a website with your personal information? Follow our simple steps to shop online with confidence.<\/p>\n Make sure the website is secure<\/strong><\/p>\n Before you enter personal or payment details online, make sure the website is secure.<\/p>\n Signs of a secure website:<\/p>\n Your web address bar shows a closed padlock or key.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The web address starts with \u2018https:\/\/\u2019<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The company has complete contact details, including a street address, phone number and email.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n If you haven\u2019t heard of the business, check reviews online to help you decide whether to shop with them.<\/p>\n Find out if the seller is overseas<\/strong><\/p>\n If the seller is not in Australia, you may not have the same consumer rights. It could be hard to contact them for a repair, replacement or refund.<\/p>\n An overseas seller might charge you an international transaction fee. Also make sure to check if you will be charged an international transaction fee by your credit or debit card provider.<\/p>\n Avoid being charged two fees: check if your credit or debit card provider charges a fee for overseas transactions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Take care with buy now pay later<\/strong><\/p>\n Buy now pay later service, like Afterpay, Humm or zipPay, let you pay for something in instalments. You might pay every fortnight, instead of paying the full amount upfront.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t pay interest on the purchase. Instead you\u2019re charged fees. It\u2019s easy to overspend or lose track of how much you owe. So make sure you can afford the repayments.<\/p>\n Find out about\u00a0buy now pay later services<\/a>.<\/p>\n Know your rights as a buyer<\/strong><\/p>\n Read the terms and conditions carefully, including:<\/p>\n the returns policy<\/p>\n<\/li>\n postage or delivery fees<\/p>\n<\/li>\n any packaging or handling charges<\/p>\n<\/li>\n local currency costs, such as currency conversion fees if the purchase is from overseas<\/p>\n<\/li>\n any international transaction fees<\/p>\n<\/li>\n any import duty or taxes<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Check your bank statements<\/strong><\/p>\n If you shop online, check your credit or debit card and bank statements regularly. Make sure you\u2019ve been charged the right amount.<\/p>\n If you see something you don\u2019t recognise, this could be a sign that a scammer has your personal details. See\u00a0banking and credit card scams<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to find out the signs of a scam, how to report it and get help.<\/p>\n Know your consumer rights<\/p>\n<\/div>\n More and more purchases are made online, so make sure you know how to protect your money and your personal details when shopping online.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Sometimes, even when you\u2019re careful, things can go wrong:<\/p>\n You don\u2019t get what you pay for.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n It\u2019s not in good condition.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n You\u2019ve been overcharged.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Follow these steps to get a refund or exchange.<\/p>\n 1. Know your rights<\/strong><\/p>\n Visit the ACCC\u2019s\u00a0online shopping<\/a>\u00a0page to find out about your rights as a customer.<\/p>\n 2. Contact the seller<\/strong><\/p>\n Check the seller\u2019s website for details on how to contact them or make a complaint. It may have been a mistake \u2014 if so, explain the issue to them and suggest how they can fix it.<\/p>\n 3. Call your bank<\/strong><\/p>\n If you used your credit or debit card to shop online but didn\u2019t get what you paid for, contact your bank. They may be able to give you a chargeback.<\/p>\n If you used a PayPal account, follow\u00a0PayPal\u2019s dispute resolution process<\/a>.<\/p>\n 4. Contact the ACCC or consumer affairs<\/strong><\/p>\n If you can\u2019t sort things out with the seller, contact the\u00a0ACCC<\/a>\u00a0or the\u00a0consumer affairs office in your state<\/a>. They may be able to help you sort things out with the seller.<\/p>\n If you think you\u2019ve been scammed, see\u00a0banking and credit scams<\/a>\u00a0for how to report it and get help.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Get the most out of internet shopping by staying safe online. Follow our simple steps to protect your money and your personal details.<\/p>\n Keep your details safe<\/strong><\/p>\n Password-protect all your devices. If you\u2019re using a shared or public computer, never save passwords, and always log out of your accounts \u2014 don\u2019t just close the browser window. See the Australian Cyber Security Centre for\u00a0tips to protect your information online<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re using a public WiFi network, don\u2019t send or receive sensitive information \u2014 for example, don\u2019t log in to your online banking or use your credit or debit card.<\/p>\n Record your online purchases<\/strong><\/p>\n Keep a record of your online purchases, including photos and descriptions of the items. In particular:<\/p>\n Make sure you receive an email confirming your purchase before closing your browser.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Write down your receipt or reference number.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Check that you\u2019ve been charged the right amount.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Source: Important note: This provides general information and hasn\u2019t taken your circumstances into account.\u00a0 It\u2019s important to consider your particular circumstances before deciding what\u2019s right for you. Although the information is from sources considered reliable, we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete.\u00a0You should not rely upon it and should seek qualified advice before making any investment decision. Except where liability under any statute cannot be excluded, we do not accept any liability (whether under contract, tort or otherwise) for any resulting loss or damage of the reader or any other person.\u00a0 Past performance is not a reliable guide to future returns.<\/span><\/p>\n Important<\/span> The post Protect yourself and know your rights when you shop online<\/a> appeared first on MLC Contemporary<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nWhat to look out for when you shop online<\/h3>\n
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What to do if something goes wrong<\/h3>\n
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How to protect yourself online<\/h3>\n
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Reproduced with the permission of ASIC\u2019s MoneySmart Team. This article was originally published at\u00a0https:\/\/moneysmart.gov.au\/student-life-and-money\/online-shopping<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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