Watch out, Del Boy's about

By HELEN LOVELESS, MAIL ON SUNDAY ENTERPRISE EDITOR
Updated:

 

BIDDING for goods on the internet is growing in popularity, with more people than ever going online in the hope of finding a bargain.

But what you see is not always what you get. The internet may be the market place of the future but it still has a fair share of Del Boy-ish chancers, looking to part you from your money.

This doesn't mean steering clear of bidding for goods online, but it does highlight the importance of making sure you know what you are buying and what your rights are.

Common problems include goods not being delivered to the buyer, or the buyer failing to send on payment to the seller.

The Office of Fair Trading, the government's official consumer watchdog, has issued guidelines on buying goods online through auctions. These include checking out the website to see whether it offers any compensation in the event of anything going wrong. Beware though, when you buy goods through an auction the site may not be responsible for the actions of people trading.

Make sure you check out the seller, or the buyer if you are the one offering items for sale. Most websites have a feedback section where users post comments about people they have traded with. This is one of the best ways to get an idea of whether it is worth trading or not.

If you have questions, ask them, says the OFT. If vendors are honest they won't mind answering them. If they hedge then it may be time to ask yourself whether you want to risk going ahead with your bid.

You should also check out whether the item you are bidding for will be insured when it is sent, and how you can pay. For example, paying by credit card could offer extra protection but you need to make sure your credit card details are secure.

Beware of bidders inviting you to trade offline, for example, enticing you by offering the same goods at the same or a lower price.

When you go offline you lose any protection offered by the site. According to the OFT, a 'significant proportion' of internet fraud happens like this.

And remember, whatever you do, don't bid too high. It is easy to get carried away in the fun of bidding yet in some cases the price is being artificially inflated by rogue bidders. Consider what you think the goods are worth and stick to it.

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