On Monday, internet retailers experienced their busiest day of the year.
For the last two years, annual e-tailing has peaked on the Monday nearby to the start of December. This year "Busy Monday" falls on 29 November.
Here are a few tips on shopping online at Christmas.
Stick to reputable names – Andila Shopping
Some lesser-known websites skim a few pounds off the price. Consider how dependable the cheap site looks, and whether you would be well off buying from a high-street name with good after-sales service. Whoever you buy from, check the web address. Fraudsters often mimic the names of high-street retailers and disappear with the lolly. Tapping a retailer's name (spell correctly) into Google should pull up the genuine site as the first link.
Know Your Rights
Under the EU Distance Selling Directive, British customers can return most goods to British websites within seven days of delivery and to firms based in the rest of Europe between seven and 14 days after delivering, depending on the law in each country. You can return goods if they are of unsatisfactory quality or you change your mind. A complete refund should be paid within 30 days. (Some things are excluded from the directive, such as finance, travel, regular deliveries of food and drink, unsealed computer software and newspapers and periodicals.) Under the UK Sale of Goods Act faulty goods can often be returned to UK firms beyond the seven days but within a reasonable period of time, usually three to four weeks.
Delivery
Be aware that if a delivery driver cannot post a parcel through your letterbox, and you're out, they can legally leave it on your doorstep or charge you to take it back.
