Trading standards tips for safe online Xmas shopping
Moray Council’s trading standards section has come up with a few handy tips to bear in mind when you are doing your Christmas shopping online this year.
- Start your shopping early to ensure that presents arrive before Christmas. The law says that, unless otherwise agreed, online retailers have 30 days to deliver your goods.
- When shopping online, you usually have the right to change your mind and cancel your order for up to 14 days from when you receive the goods.Please note there are some exceptions such as perishable items or personalised items, or items bought from a private individual.
- If you do cancel your order, online retailers must refund the full cost plus the original delivery charge, although you may be required to pay the cost of returning the item.Traders are not entitled to charge restocking or administrative fees if you cancel within the 14 day cooling off period.
- Don’t know the company?Before you buy online, take a minute to search for company reviews on the internet.
- Avoid counterfeit goods – they are usually poor quality and could be unsafe.www.brand-i-org directs you to trusted websites.
- Avoid “spoof” links to fraudulent sites sometimes found in spam emails.If you know the website address you want, type it in your browser directly, rather than follow a link.If you hover your mouse over a link, the address will be shown at the bottom of the browser – does it look right?
- Only order from secure sites with the padlock symbol in the address bar. The address should begin with https://.Make sure the padlock is on the address bar and not in the web page itself.
- Check there is a postal address and telephone number on the website.Do not assume that a company is in the UK just because it has .uk in the web address.
- If something does go wrong and the goods you receive are not of satisfactory quality, you now have a 30 day right to reject them and get a full refund.Also, if you pay for an item worth between £100 and £30,000 with your credit card, your credit card provider is jointly liable.
- Remember – if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
If you think you have been the victim of a scam or suspect an offer to be a scam or for further information or advice, contact the Moray Council trading standards service via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.
Alternatively, to report online fraud, please contact Action Fraud http://www.actionfraud.org.uk/.
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Moray Council area stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Forres in the west. The council and its 4,500 employees respond to the needs of 92,500 residents in this beautiful part of Scotland, which nestles between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.
Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live.
Headquartered in Elgin, the administrative capital of Moray.