Is Online Shopping Really Safer With Amex And Other Credit Cards?
Shopping online with a credit card really is safe, but you have to bear in mind that it also depends on the website that you are shopping through, as well as the general security of the device you are using. Other factors include the network that you are connected to. If you access an e-commerce site, you will soon see that a lot of the payment pages have encryptions, and this stops anyone from being able to see or even record your credit card number.
When you have your order confirmed, your credit information is then passed through another encrypted channel, so the payment provider can then handle the transaction in general. Encryptions can then protect your credit card information from criminals.
Is Using a Credit Card Safer?
So now you know that online shopping is in fact safe when you go through a reputable site, but is it safer to use a credit card or a debit card? At the end of the day, using a credit card is safer in almost every situation. The main reason for this is that if something does go wrong with the transaction then you are ultimately protected by the provider.
If you do not receive the product, or if for some reason, you need to try and claim your money back, then you can do so with ease, as you have borrowed the money. In fact, credit cards are so widely used now, that there are even American Express casinos out there.
Protected Purchases
If you have shopped online before, then there is a high chance that from time to time, you have experienced buyer’s remorse. This can be for a huge number of reasons. It may be that you are not happy with the general quality of the product, or that the vendor has not delivered what they have promised.
When you buy something with cash, or even a debit card, you should know that your protection relies on the return policy of the vendor. With a credit card, you won’t have to worry about being at the mercy of the vendor, and there are multiple ways for you to try and rectify your purchase woes.
If you have bought something through your credit card, then you can ask them to try and dispute the purchase. This is called a chargeback, where you can say that the product either arrived damaged or that you never actually received the product at all.
When you do this, you will normally have to fill out a form, describing what it is you purchased, and why you are not entirely satisfied with it. The card issuer can then reach out to the vendor to find out what happened and to support your case.
Why Using a Credit Card is Smart
You can never be confident that your information is completely safe when you shop online, but if you use a credit card, then you at least know that it is a secure payment option when you shop online.
If the worst should happen and you find that your credit card information is compromised, then you should know that it’s just the information that’s been stolen, not the card itself. This means that you are not at all liable for any charges that may not have been authorized. You can dispute them to try and get the charges reversed and when this happens, the money will be frozen.
In other words, you do not need to worry about it affecting your credit limit.
If you had used your bank card in this instance, then it is entirely possible that a thief could drain your entire account by just having your debit card number. Sure, you can dispute any charges with your debit card as well and there is nothing wrong with this, but you will have to wait until the end of the dispute to try and get your money back. Meanwhile, you are without any money, and this can impact you far more than you realize.
When you look at the consumer protections that are out there for credit cards, it is truly plain to see that they are the best possible choices for anyone who wants to shop online. If you use a credit card, you’re shopping smart. It’s one of the many cyber security practices consumers use to ensure that they remain safe and in control online.
