What is the Safer Shopping scheme?
The Safer Shopping scheme is intended to make shopping online for products and services much safer. If a website displays the "Safer Shopping Approved" logo, then it means that it has been checked by us and meets all of the requirements of our code of practice.

What does the Safer Shopping Approved logo look like?
It looks like this ...

Can any website display the Safer Shopping Approved logo?
No, websites are only legally allowed to display the Safer Shopping Approved logo with our permission. To get our permission, they must make sure that their website complies with everything mentioned in our code of practice. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of a Safer Shopping logo, please contact us.

How do I know that a website is really allowed to display the logo?
When you see the "Safer Shopping Approved" logo on a website you can click on it to check whether or not the retailer is genuinely Safer Shopping Approved. If they are, then you'll be shown a certificate that gives details of their membership. If you are not shown that certificate then you should report the website to us.

How does the Safer Shopping scheme help prevent credit card security problems?
See this page of our website - Security

How does the Safer Shopping scheme help ensure good customer service?
See this page of our website - Customer Service

How do I complain if I have a problem with a retailer?
The first thing you should do if you experience a problem with a Safer Shopping Approved retailer is contact them directly. They may not be aware of the diificulties you are experiencing and will be only too happy to put things right. If you are still unhappy with the retailer you can register your complaint with us. We will work on your behalf (free of charge) to help resolve the complaint. Click here to find out more about our Dispute Resolution service.

How often do you check websites to ensure that they still comply with your code of practice?
Websites that display the "Safer Shopping Approved" are checked before they are given permission to display the logo. They are then checked regularly on a random basis. We spend time checking websites every day, so a site might be checked once a week, more than once a week or less than once a week, depending on whether or not they are selected for random inspection on that day.

Do you offer any guarantees and can I hold Safer Shopping responsible if a transaction goes wrong?
No, that simply wouldn't be possible as we are not associated with websites that display the "Safer Shopping Approved" logo in any way other than in that we have checked to make sure that they comply with our code of practice. We don't endorse or recommend the products or services of any website - it's up to you to decide whether or not you want to purchase from a particular online store, but we do make the process easier for you by ensuring that they do comply with our code of practice. If they don't they will no longer be allowed to display the logo. Also, if something does go wrong you have the peace of mind that we'll be here to help try and solve the problem for you with our free dispute resolution service.

I have a website - how do I join the Safer Shopping scheme?
If you sell products and/or services online and would like to apply to become a Safer Shopping Approved website, please visit the Retailers section of our site