Eight tips for safer online shopping - Kilkenny Live

Today (March 15) is World Consumer Rights Day, which raises awareness for consumer rights, protection, and empowerment and with the latest CSO figures revealing nearly four in five Irish internet users bought online in 2023, Switcher.ie has given Kilkenny Live eight tips for safer online shopping. Switcher.ie is a free, impartial price comparison and switching service for energy, telecoms and personal finances.

- Know your refund rights: New consumer laws introduced in 2022 has given consumers stronger rights when shopping online, extending to digital services like streaming, online games, and ebooks. Look at the store's return policy before you buy and ensure you're aware of your statutory refund rights too.

- Be wary of dark patterns: Sometimes, online retailers try to influence shoppers to make choices they otherwise wouldn't. Dark patterns include tactics like adding more items to shopping baskets without permission, pre-ticking additional products, creating a fake sense of urgency, or making it hard to escape website offers.

- Check your delivery rights: The latest CCPC report shows that of those who had a shopping issue, nearly a quarter said it was with the delivery of an item. Stay in the know - brush up on delivery rights, like your right to a refund for late delivery, redress for lost or damaged goods, or the right to be clearly informed of all delivery charges, including hidden costs.

- Double check chatbot info: Many companies are now using AI chatbots for online customer service, which can speed up waiting times and deliver faster responses. But AI can sometimes deliver inconsistent, biased, or misleading information, so cross-check what you're told.

- Shop securely: Safeguard your credit card details and other sensitive information while shopping. Always check if the site has a secure HTTPS URL or a padlock symbol, which means your personal information is safe.

- Watch out for copycats: A cloned website may use spoof logos or branding to look like the real deal. Be alert to blurry logos, spelling mistakes, or broken links. If a website is careless, can you trust them with your money?  

- Protect your tech: An antivirus or firewall can help protect your computer from cyber threats. Check yours is up to date, and scan your devices regularly.