BUYING GUIDE

Wowshops is your safe shopping destination. Browse and shop with confidence at hundreds of web sites that have been checked by wowshops for secure online shops in the UK.

This site allow you to order products, book tickets and generally spend your hard-earned cash. The first thing to remember is that using your credit card online is 100% safe providing you take a few sensible precautions.

Some people are worried about using their credit card to shop on the Net. In theory it's safer than giving credit card details over the phone, because on most sites the information is encrypted. Before giving out card details, check that you are on a secure line, a small padlock icon wil appear on your toolbar, and the http:// prefix will change to https://. If the site is not secure, be vary about placing an online order, if you've heard of, if someone you know has bought from a particular site without any problems or if it's a household name then the risk is greatly reduced and NEVER GIVE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION OR BANKING INFORMATION TO ANYONE VIAL-EMAIL. If they want it then go o their site make sure they have a SSL certificate & proceed that way.

How can you check the status of your order?

Many large sites offer order tracking facilities which allow you to check the progress of your order until it is deliverd. If there is no order tracking ensure there is a contact telephone number in case you need to chase things up.

Is it safe to order from outside of UK?

Orders placed with companies outside the UK are not protected by UK sale of goods or safety legislation. Only order from abroad if you know and trust the company you are dealing with and even then, try to stick within Western Europe and the USA.

Is there any hidden costs ordering from Internet?

There's no 'Internet tax' for orders made online but as with any mail order purchase you should always check whether your order includes postage and packing costs. Also remember that orders from outside the UK may be subject to additional customs and import costs.

Is there a regulatory body for online traders?

Look for "trustmark" validation. There are a number of organisations offering consumers certain guarantees or "trustmarks" that member merchants' stores are operating responsibly. Sites that register with trustmark organisations need to follow guidelines regarding their customer service. Some examples of trustmark organisations are TrustUK, BT Trustwise, SquareTrade, IMRG Hallmark, ISIS Safe Shops List, TRUSTe. The absence of a 'trustmark', however, does not indicate a lack of trustworthiness.

What if the goods don't arrive or your credit card is used fraudulently?

Don't panic if products ordered online take a while to arrive. Just like in the real world, delays do happen and things can be out of stock - even if you receive a confirmation saying that everything is fine. However, if you've waited longer than 21 days then you should contact the company concerned to hurry them up.

Always keep a record of every on-line transaction as proof of order, ideally including the retailer’s terms and conditions, returns policy and contact details. Always print off a copy of the order summary page as well as the order confirmation page, which may only provide the order number with no specific details of goods ordered.

If you have problems with an order made using a credit card, you will usually be able to recover any lost money from your card issuer. If you're concerned about fraud, call your credit card company to check their policy regarding fraudulent transactions.

Always check your credit card statement carefully. Raise any discrepancies with the retailer concerned in the first instance, as soon as you can. You have at least 90 days to report any transaction you are not happy with.

If you have a problem, contact the company you ordered from. If they do not give you satisfaction, contact your credit card company. If you are still not happy, contact your local Trading Standards Office and any 'trustmark' organisation the shop is registered with.

Continue Shopping