Credit Cards Online Information

The majority of American consumers believe it's safer to use a check or money order for online purchases but, according to the National Consumers League, that belief is mistaken.

A recent survey by the National Consumers League (NCL) found the most frequently cited fear by online shoppers is that their credit card number will be stolen - a concern expressed by 43 percent of respondents.

Fifty-nine percent said they would rather pay with a check or money order than use plastic.

Online shopping has become increasingly important to the economy in recent years. The NCL quoted U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that e-commerce totaled nearly $26 billion in 2000.

In the NCL study, 55 percent of respondents with Internet access said they placed an order online in the previous 12 months. That figure is up from 44 percent in a similar survey taken in 1999, the League said.

Contrary to popular belief, credit cards offer more protection against fraud, not less, because they offer legal remedies, the NCL insists.

If they use credit cards, shoppers can dispute charges for goods or services that were never ordered, never received or misrepresented by sellers.

The organization also said technological advances have made credit cards better suited for use on the Web. The NCL said some card issuers now offer "substitute" or "single-use" credit card numbers. As the names imply, the person's actual credit card number is not used during an online transaction, offering an extra level of security.

As part of its national education campaign, the NCL released a set of tips for safe shopping online. In addition to the admonitions about using credit cards - especially those with substitute numbers - the League offers the following advice to consumers:

- Do extensive research on the background and sales history of online merchants. If possible, obtain the physical address and phone number of the seller before you buy anything.

- Pay attention when giving your credit card information online. Only do so if there is some indication the information is encrypted, or otherwise is being sent in a secure manner. Do not send your account number or other sensitive information in an ordinary e-mail.

- Obtain and print as much information as possible about your online purchase, including a complete description of the item, total price including shipping, delivery time, warranty information, return policy and what to do if there is a problem.

# posted by Medical Information : 5:42 AM