What are the signs that a site is safe to enter credit card details?

[shivvy]

I was told that the 2 important things to check are that:
a) there is a padlock symbol at the end of the address bar, and
b) there is an s after the http at the start of the website address.

Is this correct?

[society]

No site is safe or fool-proof. Everyone who shops online take a chance.

[shivvy]

So nobody should shop online society???!!!!!

[society]

If you noticed I said everyone who shops online takes a chance, I didn't say none should shop online.

[shivvy]

Oh for goodness sake I was joking society . . .

[society]

that should be ^^^ -

If you noticed I said everyone who shops online takes a chance, I didn't say none should NOT shop online.

[Answerprancer]

I usually go on name and reputation; if it's a well known and well used/trusted company, I feel ok about using them.
Sites I've ordered from with no problems/security issues include: Dealextreme, E-buyer (not E-bay), Amazon.

[shivvy]

I will more carefully rephrase my question for the benefit of people who might be able to give me an answer.

What are the signs that one site might be safer than another site when buying goods online? I am not looking for any guarantees, just some general advice.

Thanks.

[boxtops]

Shivvy, the padlock's not in the address bar, it's down at the bottom of the screen on the right hand side. You are right that https indicates secure site.
I shop on-line a lot, from a variety of shops and sites, including eBay and Amazon, and I've never had a problem.
You have to be careful, if a site looks remotely dodgy don't use it. At the very least, make sure that the company is posting name address and telephone number on the site, never buy off anyone only using a mobile contact address. If you see the padlock at the bottom, and the https in the address, it's some assurance - but as long as you shop from big sites (for instance I buy plants from Thompson & Morgan, or gifts from the charity catalogues) you should be fine.

[jno]

"I didn't say none should NOT shop online."

Never buy from anyone who tries to confuse you with triple negatives.

[society]

Thanks Jno. :-)

[daffy654]

Always look for a link for contact information, it must have a street address and telephone number (landline not mobile). No street address = no order from me. Also try entering the site name into google along with the words 'independent review' and see if any links to complaints about the site come up

[shivvy]

Thanks answerprancer. I usually do that however today when I went to use a site that I have used before, I noticed that the 2 things I mentioned in my initial question weren't on the website. It made me a bit suspicious that it might have been a 'dummy' site (don't know if such a thing exists but I'm sure it could).

[deggers316]

i buy on line a lot of the time but only from large stores that can be checked out
i would never give my debit/credit details to an individual selling an item except on e-bay where there's a paypal account

[boxtops]

I;ve never noticed a padlock in the address bar, headwreck - I;ve just gone on the M&S site and there is a padlock at the bottom but not in the address (and NB, they are not https but I would not worry about buying from them).
Paypal is such a safe way of paying, deggers - the other party never gets to know your bank details. Lots of sales site including some shops are now using PayPal.

[hc4361]

The problem with PayPal is you lose your rights under s.75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

[boxtops]

Do you hc? I have never had any trouble at all with them, and I have been buying and selling on eBay with PayPal for several years now.

[squarebear]

The https and padlock is by no means a guarantee that a website is safe.
For example, I run a quiz website and here is the header to it:

https://www.secure-we...o.uk/paypalheader.jpg

Note the https and the padlock, yet I could be the biggest crook in the land for all anyone knows. (I'm not, by the way!)