Help And Advice

Welcome to the Help Section. This will be of great use to those who are buying online for the first time. Here we will explain the details of online shopping.

Of most concern to the Internet shopper will be security of their personal details and credit card details. Fraudulent use of these details is, in fact, quite rare. One of the most important things to remember is that by buying online you are no less safe than when, for instance, paying by credit card for the fuel you have just bought from a filling station or for the weekly shopping from your local supermarket.

Before we continue we would like to remind the reader that this website does not sell items. The primary aim is helping people like you to find the goods they desire.

All the shops listed with this directory meet our strict criteria for level of service, quality of merchandise and method of payment, so that the user can feel secure. However, very occasional problems are inevitable. There are a number of precautions that can be taken to reduce the risk.

Your security on the Internet is provided by industry standards such as Secure Socket Layers, or SSL for short. These scramble the private information you provide when you come to making your purchase. The following is UK Shops Directory basic guide to buying online:

Go to the store to browse for the item(s) you require. It is not yet necessary to worry about security since you are not giving away any details.
Once you have found the item you require you will be given the option of "add to shopping basket", or similar. Click on this and if necessary add the quantity if given the option and continue.
When you have finished and have all the items you desire, look for a "go to checkout" option.
Now that you are paying for your goods you will enter a SECURE AREA. The following padlock icon should appear in the bottom right corner of your browser

Double-clicking on this will show you the shops security certificate. You will be given the payment options of the shop. It is now safe to enter private details in the knowledge that they will not be misused.

When the above icon has appeared SSL technology has taken effect and the information you provide will be encrypted when you agree to send and it leaves your computer. It can only be decoded when it arrives at the company you are paying. If it is stopped by anyone before that it is useless to whoever intercepts it. Even when the data arrives at the companys computer it is usually kept in an encrypted format behind what is known as a firewall. This prevents computer hackers from getting hold of the companys information and breaching security.

Some sites use a dedicated online payment provider, of which you can be extra sure that your details won't be misused. Secure Trading and Netscape are examples of such providers, who don't usually give even the company from which you bought the merchandise the card details.

For extra peace of mind, you can check with your credit card company for liability on misuse of your card or items purchased but not received. Most companies will share responsibility.