If you despise cold weather, crowded shopping malls and parking lots, or if you simply want to shop in your underwear, doing your holiday shopping online will be your savior. That is, if you know how to shop online without being scrooged.
Retail Forward reported to The Federal Trade Commission is attempting to put a damper on the holidays of those who would commit online fraud with the recently launched OnGuardOnline. According to the FTC, • Keep a paper trail. Print and save records of your online transactions, including the product description and price, the online receipt, and copies of any email you exchange with the seller. Check credit card statements to make sure there are no fraudulent charges. • Pay by credit or charge card. NEVER SEND CASH. If you pay by credit or charge card online, the Fair Credit Billing Act will protect your transaction. Under this law, you have the right to dispute charges under certain circumstances and payment is temporarily withheld while the creditor is investigating. Generally when fraudulent charges are made on a credit card, the carrier is only responsible for paying $50. • Check refund policies. The law requires retailers to disclose a return policy, so find out when the deadline for return is and if the receipt is needed. • Calculate the costs. Use a website that allows you to compare like products to get the best deal, then factor in the cost of shipping and fees to find what is right for you. • Never send financial information via email. Email is not a secure method of transmitting your financial or personal information, such as credit card or check number, socially security number, or even your home address. So recline in your chair, crank up the heat, and follow the guidelines of the FTC to insure that your online holiday shopping experience is a merry one. Add to Del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit | Furl Autmn Davis is a staff writer for Murdok covering ebusiness and technology.Don't Get Scrooged This Holiday Season
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