Stay internet safe this Christmas

Published:

14/11/2008

Topic:

Press Release,Shopping

From 1 December 2008, the rules on purchasing goods online from non-EU countries are changing. Internet shoppers will no longer have to pay customs duty on goods worth £18 or more.  From December, duty will only be charged on goods worth over £105.

• Do you know how new rules on EU purchases could affect your Christmas shopping?

From 1 December 2008, the rules on purchasing goods online from non-EU countries are changing. Internet shoppers will no longer have to pay customs duty on goods worth £18 or more.  From December, duty will only be charged on goods worth over £105.

While these new rules may make some purchases seem far better value, Rob Barnes, Head of moneysupermarket Shopping, advises consumers to be cautious about the websites they buy from, especially non-UK websites.  Some aren't always clear about whether duty or VAT will be incurred and others can undervalue goods to avoid paying charges.

"If your goods are wrongly declared, they can be seized or you can be penalised for the mistake.  At all costs, use a reputable website which offers security and piece of mind."
With almost a quarter of all Christmas gift shopping expected to be done online this year and internet fraud on the up,  moneysupermarket Shopping has come up with five simple tips to help you stay safe when shopping online:

1. Stick to well known names
Only buy from sellers you trust. If you don't know the brand, do some research - look for contact details and customer reviews.

2. Use secure websites
When making a payment online, check the website is secure: look for a locked padlock symbol in the bottom right of the browser window and make sure the website address begins 'https://'.
Also, watch out for padlocks that appear on the page itself - they're easy symbols for fraudsters to copy and legitimate padlocks will only appear in the window browser.

3. Pay with a credit card
You get extra protection if you pay with a credit, rather than a debit card. Under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, the credit card company is jointly liable with the retailer for purchases valued between £100 and £30,000. This means if you buy something over the internet that doesn't turn up or arrives faulty or damaged, you can pursue the credit card provider for a refund if the retailer refuses to give one or has gone bust.

4. Proof of purchase
Print out a copy of the order confirmation and check bank or credit card statements carefully to make sure the right payment has gone through

5. Keep security up-to-date
Ensure your own computer's internet security, firewall and anti-virus protection is up-to-date. Don't ignore updates when they flash up on screen. If you do fall victim to online fraud your bank may not cover any loss if your computer and internet protection wasn't properly secured.

END

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