Don’t get ripped off shopping online.

That’s the message from Weymouth and Portland Citizens Advice, which is sharing advice ahead of National Consumer Week. This annual awareness campaign runs from Monday and coincides with Cyber Monday, when people will be hunting to get the best deals online.

As part of National Consumer Week, Weymouth and Portland Citizens Advice suggests people check all the product information carefully before buying something on an online marketplace. They also recommend that shoppers take extra care, like reading previous reviews and saving screenshots of their purchases.

Rachel Rogers, Advice Services Manager at Weymouth and Portland Citizens Advice said: “Far too many people are being ripped off on online marketplaces. As part of National Consumer Week we want to make sure customers know what to look out for when making a purchase and their rights if something goes wrong.”

“With millions of people trying to find a bargain online on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, buyers need to beware when purchasing off online marketplaces.

“To reduce the risk of being left out-of-pocket it’s a good idea to check the product information on these sites carefully before they make a purchase.”

These are Citizens Advice’s top tips for online shopping:

  • Check the product details. This should include: photos; a description; cost of the item; delivery charges; contact details for the seller; and any cancellation rights. It should be clear if it’s being sold by a trader or private seller - this is important as your rights are different.
  • Take screenshots of the item you want to buy. This will come in handy if the item you receive is different to what you saw on the website.
  • Use a payment method that protects you. You’ll have a better chance of getting your money back if there’s a problem by using a card or Paypal, particularly if it’s an overseas seller. Avoid paying by bank transfer.
  • Go back to the seller if there’s a problem . Explain what’s happened, how you’d like them to fix it and give a deadline for them to respond. If they don’t sort it out, see if there’s an alternative dispute resolution service that can help. Report them and the online marketplace to Trading Standards if you think the issue is unfair.
  • Getting your money back from a private seller. The product description needs to be accurate, but if information is missing you won’t be able to ask for your money back.If the item doesn’t match the photos on the website, you may also have grounds to ask for your money back.