Benefit from extra online protection with your credit card

As Christmas draws near, you may be wondering how you can possibly avoid the threat of online fraud. Paying with a credit card can really help you out, but on the other hand it does open you up to the risk of credit card fraud.

Due to the fact that Christmas is such a busy time of year and thousands of credit cards will be used, fraudsters are preparing to have one of their best times of year. However, you will be pleased to know that new regulations enable you to be better protected this Christmas.

If you purchase something online which is worth over £100 but less than £3,000, then you will have extra protection on your purchase. This extra protection falls under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Under the Act it clearly states that credit card companies are jointly responsible with the product supplier if goods go missing or if they are stolen. However, the consumer also has to make sure that they are purchasing goods from a genuine supplier.

When purchasing anything online you really should look out for a padlock symbol on the page somewhere. This highlights that the website is secure and when you pay with your credit card, your details will be safe. Also in the web address section you should see https:// instead of http:// and that means that the page is secure too.

By looking out for these small symbols you can rest in the knowledge that your details are safe. Purchasing anything online is always risky and before this new regulation came into play the consumer was forced to pay for the losses themselves. So it will no doubt be a welcome change in the eyes of most consumers and it is definitely a good excuse to spend more on your credit card this Christmas.