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Shopping Online with Credit Cards Can Be Safe!
Online shopping these days is considered to be quite a normal way of buying goods and services. Even though just some 15-20 years ago people could not imagine another way of making purchases but going to a supermarket, grocery store, mall, etc. Now a great number of people shop online for all types of merchandise - from a pair of socks to some latest technical innovations.
No denial, making purchases online sitting in front of your computer at home or in your office, or from any other place where you can surf the net, is more than just convenient. Online shopping saves you much time and efforts. With a credit card you will have no problem with paying for your online purchases. But the problem of security bothers many cardholders.
So, online shopping is greatly convenient. But is it equally safe? You really need to know this, for credit card security issue is very important.
The problem is that when purchasing some item online with your credit card you are required to give your personal information. And when it comes to sharing your personal data, there is always a threat of credit card fraud and identity theft.
The statistics of online credit card fraud is really terrifying. The last year's online fraud resulted in about $2 million losses. So, before you pay with your plastic for some online purchase, take measures to protect your credit card. Here are a few simple rules for you to follow and your online shopping process will be secure and pleasant.
You should better shop on the sites with a security clearance that does not bring about any doubts. Choose reliable web sources. Either those, you (or your friends or family) have been shopping at for a pretty long period of time, or the ones that have stainless reputation. If you want to buy something from an unfamiliar web source, here is how you can check the site security.
Pay close attention to the site's address, to the encryption sign and to the padlock. In case the "http" part of the site's URL (Uniform Resource Locator) changes into "https" on the page where you are to enter your payment and personal information, the website is secure. You can feel safe about your credit card protection.
As for the encryption sign, make sure that your personal information is encrypted. Look at the padlock at the bottom of the page. If it is locked, you can safely leave your personal data in the payment form. When you see an open padlock, you should better stay away from buying the item you have chosen. Otherwise, you can fall a victim to ID theft.
Spare no efforts to read the site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use in order to make sure that you clearly understand how your personal information is used and what protection measures the website takes to secure your credit card personal details. If you learn that the online retailer can sell your personal info to other merchants, opt out of the deal.
Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you have a right to dispute unauthorized charges (the items or services you did not order). In the worst-case scenario you will be charged only $50. As for all the rest charges - you incur no liability for them.
Take care of your online credit card purchases record. Just print a copy of the order forms and your confirmation number. If the item you have paid for is not delivered within 30 days, or any other problems with it, you can claim for the refund with your documentary proof.
Keeping in mind these tips you will avoid credit card information theft and enjoy your online shopping.
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The XXI century is the century of high-speed and nanotechnologies. It seems people strive to speed up all processes to make this already hectic and sometimes chaotic rhythm of life even crazier. They are ready to shrink everything they can lay hands on to make nanotechnologies work. In fact people just want to make their life more convenient.
Contactless credit cards are another product designed to upgrade our life quality through saving customers' time during the checkout process. These new-age credit products are gaining more and more popularity with customers. The so-called wave card makes the checkout process easier and faster. The recent opinion poll proves that contactless plastics won many hearts. According to the survey's result, over 90% of wave cards owners find them to be very convenient and user-friendly. Plus such plastics are accepted nearly everywhere regular credit products are accepted.
The financial economy crisis in the US has been admitted the largest financial shock for America since Great Depression. US banks incur billion-dollar losses. The number of delinquencies keeps rising. Associated Press has announced the results of data processing on 17 trusts dealing with securitization of credit cards.
The results leave much to be desired, to put it mildly. The volume of credit card debt with a delay of 30 or more days has gone up by 26% as compared to October, 2007. Now it makes up $17 billion. It stands for over 4% of credit card debts. The information on card holders debts for Associated Press was provided by the leading US companies.
We are used to see credit cards the way they look today, and it is hard to imagine that they looked different and served for another purpose than paying for goods and services. We call them plastics. In fact, a century ago credit cards had a different shape, size and were not made of plastic.
The appearance of credit cards dates back to the beginning of the XX century. Who were they created for? The target audience was wealthy people. The cards could be used as business certificates and licenses for the so-called "loyalty programs" at some restaurants, gas stations and merchants. Those cards, you can be surprised, were made of cardboard.
Rapidly growing credit card crime rate causes more and more concern of credit consumers and credit providers as well. Credit card fraud is a number one card holders complaint to Federal Trade Commission. According to the statistics, over 85% of credit card owners that fell victims to credit scam discover the fraud only after they get turned down by credit issuers, having applied for a new credit card or loan.
Credit bureaus cannot stay indifferent to the problem of credit fraud and identity theft, in particular. Equifax, one of the three US major credit bureaus has introduced a new ID theft protection service. "ID Patrol" is a multifunctional tool that allows protecting customers from identity theft.
