Paying for your goods
Paying for online shopping is much the same as paying for your goods in a physical shop or paying over the phone. You will be asked for the 16-digit number of your credit or debit card, and your security code – the three-digit code on the back of your card.
Some banks and websites include additional security features to protect your money. After you have entered your card details and before you confirm your order, you may be asked to enter a password. All transactions over £100 now require this. This adds another layer of security by proving your identity. If you forget your password, you can select the ‘Forgot your password?’ option to reset it. You will receive an email with a link to reset your password.
One number that you should never enter on a website is your personal identification number (PIN). This is a secret number known only to you and should never be shared with anyone else. It is never used for online shopping, so if you are asked for your PIN it is likely to be a scam (see Lesson 3 [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] ).
You have certain rights to get your money back if you use a credit or debit card to pay for goods online. It is less safe to pay by a bank transfer. Some people use one credit card only for internet transactions so that if anything goes wrong, they can cancel the card.
One way to ensure that the website you are buying from does not have your credit or debit card information is to use a service like PayPal. PayPal stores your card details safely and securely. It reduces the risk of your card details being stolen or misused every time you make a purchase. A PayPal account allows you to send and receive money online without giving the seller your credit card details. For example, if you need a refund on goods you purchased, the seller can easily send money back to your PayPal account.
Whatever method you choose to pay for things online, it’s a good idea to keep a record of your transactions so that you can check whether your bank statements show the correct amount of money paid from your account.
Checklist for safe shopping