Expectations Versus Reality: Online Shopping Edition

There’s nothing quite like the joy of the item you’ve been eagerly awaiting, arriving on your doorstep with just the click of a button, is there?

But, of course, online shopping is not without its challenges and we want you to be safe out there, so it’s extra important to protect yourself.

 Picture this – it’s the day before you’re set to head off to your first camping festival in over two years and the tent you and your mates purchased online has just arrived. You excitedly open the box to send a picture to your festival group chat, only to find a child-sized one-man tent – a completely different product to what you paid for a week ago. It’s a sting like no other. But, all is not lost.

There are ways to ensure you don’t get caught out shopping online. We’ve teamed up with Visa, to provide you with some tips to help you shop online with confidence. 

Some of it’s so simple – like, for example, we know it can be a bit of a chore but checking your bank statements regularly is an easy but crucial step in staying vigilant whilst shopping online. So, if you spot something that doesn’t stack up, on your mobile app or from a transaction alert, contact your bank pronto. 

Nowadays keeping an eye on your transactions is easy with your mobile banking app, by signing up for alerts you can keep on top of your purchases and spot if something doesn’t stack up. Once you see something that doesn’t look okay, you should contact your bank, because you may well be able to get your money back.

Also, did you know that how you choose to pay for something can also help protect your purchase?

Say, perhaps you spot a payment from your account that you’re certain wasn’t made by you and suspect you’ve been a victim of fraud, all may not be lost. If the payment was made with a Visa debit or credit card then you’ll be covered by Visa's Zero Liability Policy, meaning you could get your money back for fraudulent transactions.

And then there’s Chargeback, a brilliant feature that means when you pay with Visa you could be refunded if you’ve bought something online that was delivered but wasn’t as described or if it hasn’t turned up at all. 

To learn more about Visa’s Zero Liability Policy, Chargeback and other ways you can stay safe when shopping online, visit here. Because how you pay matters and Visa’s here to help you shop online with confidence.