With the holidays quickly approaching many of us will be searching the internet for deals as we buy friends and loved ones gifts.

Manitoba’s Consumer Protection Office issued a reminder that when making purchases online to be careful before you enter your financial information.

Don’t enter any financial information on unsecured websites. A secured website will have an address that begins with https://  in the address bar.  This indicates that the site is secure. Also, a secure site will have a lock icon at the bottom of the screen or in the address bar depending on your browser.

It is also advisable to do a little research on the company before clicking on the buy now button. Do a quick online search to see if others have had problems with the supplier. Also, read the terms and conditions that are outlined before you buy also it is a good idea to confirm the final price before you pay for an item.

If you are one who uses auction sites like eBay remember that most sellers are individuals, not businesses and you can easily see their approval rating and reviews from previous customers. Rules on auction sites vary so read them carefully before making a bid. Know what your rights are if there is an issue.

If you do run into a conflict Manitoba’s Consumer Protection Act is there to protect shoppers online.

Under the act, you are protected from unauthorized use of credit card information and are limited to a $50 liability if your card is used without your permission. You have the right to cancel an online purchase if the seller fails to deliver goods or services.

The act also requires credit card companies to reverse or cancel a charge if the consumer was entitled to but did not receive a refund from the vendor.

LINK  | Manitoba Consumer Protection 

-News 4-

© 2017 News 4, a DigiPix media Group company

.