Stay safe when shopping online at Christmas

This year, 90 per cent of us will be doing at least some of our Christmas shopping online, with 70 per cent planning to buy more than half their gifts on the web, according to the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG) trade association.

But at this time of the year, an eagerness to part with cash can lead to carelessness. With our guide you can find out how to shop online safely this Christmas.

Shop and awe
The first thing to do is find out who you are dealing with.

One in four online shoppers never check to see if a retailer is genuine.

Just because a website has a .co.uk web address does not mean the retailer is based in the UK, which could cause you problems if something goes wrong.

IMRG runs the Isis scheme that has vetted more than 1,000 sites for reliability, security and customer service.

If you’re not familiar with a website you can check its records at the All Who Is website to see when and where it was set up. Also, type the site’s name into a search engine and you’ll see complaints and forum posts if a site is suspect.

Bagging a bargain is a good reason to shop online, but be sensible and set yourself a budget because it is too easy to get carried away. It may sound obvious but read product descriptions carefully.

Things may be sold without necessary batteries or cables, for instance.

Online comparison sites are good for helping to find a bargain but are not infallible (see the Com puteractive feature about saving money).

If you do use them, check out online reviews of the companies you are sent to.

These can be invaluable when it comes to finding out about a retailer’s customer service and, importantly at this time of year, how good they are at keeping to promised delivery dates.

Look carefully at delivery charges. What appears to be a bargain can easily be wiped out by inflated delivery charges.

Vouchers are generally safe to use unless the company in question goes out of business. Some people were left out of pocket last year when music and DVD seller Zavvi failed and the shops wouldn’t take vouchers.

If a company is in trouble, it will still accept vouchers until the receiver, the company appointed to look after the assets, takes control.

After that you will have to make a claim with the receiver for the return of your money.