Armed with a credit card and a mouse, online shopping is convenient and easy but it comes with some potential traps for the unwary - from rogue traders to inadequate cover from your credit card when things go wrong.
There are some credit cards offering only minimal protection, or sometimes none at all, if you are unfortunate enough to strike a problem - non-delivery, or damage in transit for example - with goods you've ordered.
What's more, there are far too many rogue traders eager to fleece you as you merrily click and buy and any number of phishers and ID thieves ready to whip credit card details from unsuspecting buyers.
Credit cards the safest way to shop online
Generally credit cards are the most secure method of shopping online.
In the UK there are comforting credit laws to protect consumers. For the most part credit card providers offer protection on goods bought in the £100 to £30,000 range.
This covers you in the event of something going wrong with the transaction and enables you to claim against the credit card provider or the trader.
What features should you be looking out for?
There are some important features to note when you
compare credit cards for online shopping among the vast range of credit cards available.
The key phrases which you should look out for are 'secure services', 'online protection', 'extra protection', 'internet shopping promise' and 'reduce risk of fraud when shopping online'.
These are excellent indicators to guarantee your security and peace of mind when shopping online.
Visa or Mastercard?
There is not much to choose between either Visa or Mastercard; both are first class credit cards providing total security when shopping online.
Mastercard has a security system called SecureCode, available with some of its credit and debit cards, designed to safeguard you against unauthorised use of your card when making purchases online.
Visa has a similar security offering so that if you sign up with Verified by Visa, you will get a personal assurance message asking you for your secret password every time you use the card for a purchase from a Verified by Visa online retailer.
All Visa asks you to do is enter your password, which you have selected when you sign up, then wait for confirmation of your identity and that's it, as simple as that!
And it's not just security...
In addition to security online, there are several other attractive offers to tempt online shoppers. Some
0% purchase credit cards offer an initial 0% interest rate on your purchases for a certain period of time, allowing you to pay off your purchase slowly over the following months and put the worry of interest on the backburner for a while.
Some credit cards offer perks such as
cash back credit cards rewards or bonuses for friends and family.
Then there are discounts such as free home delivery on goods bought from the supermarket or, perhaps even better, cheaper petrol at the filling station. That'll be music to ears of gas guzzler owners.
Insurance perks
When you are comparing credit cards for online shopping, remember that there are some credit cards that offer the fantastic perk of internet delivery insurance.
It makes good sense to find a credit card that offers this perk, particularly if you are a frequent online shopper. It insures you against loss, theft or damage from the moment you buy until your purchases are delivered to your front door.
Don't forget the small print
When choosing a new credit card, it is vital to read the small print carefully before you sign anything as there are all sorts of hidden dangers lurking in wait for the unwary credit card holder.
When comparing credit cards, be aware of the annual fees charged. Some cards charge whereas others don't.
Make sure you identify the devious little traps lying in wait to ambush you in the small print on credit cards and keep in mind what you should particularly look out for.
