The Consumer Protection Office wants to ensure consumers are protected and have the information they need to make informed decisions while shopping online this busy holiday season.
Before entering any financial information online, consumers are advised to make sure they are using a secure site, which includes:
- an icon, usually a lock shown in the locked position at the bottom of the screen or on the address bar; and
- a website address beginning with https:// (the ‘s’ indicates the site is secure).
Consumers are advised to research a company before making a purchase. A quick online search can reveal if other consumers have had problems with the seller. Contacting organizations such as the Better Business Bureau and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre may also provide information about a company’s reputation. Before paying, consumers should check the terms and conditions of the purchase and confirm the final price.
On auction sites such as eBay where the seller is an individual and not a business, it is especially important to read reviews from other buyers. Know the rules of the auction before making bids.
Even when consumers take steps to protect themselves, they may still encounter difficulties with an online transaction. The Consumer Protection Act helps online shoppers by:
- protecting against the unauthorized use of credit card information,
- limiting a consumer’s liability to $50 when credit card information is used without proper authorization,
- providing the opportunity to cancel an online purchase if the seller fails to deliver goods or services, and
- requiring credit card companies to reverse or cancel a credit card charge if the consumer was entitled to but did not receive a refund from the vendor.
For more information, shoppers are encouraged to contact the Consumer Protection Office at 204-945-3800, 1-800-782-0067 (toll-free) in Manitoba, via email at consumers@gov.mb.ca or visit the website at www.gov.mb.ca/cca/cpo.
