There are a number of things to remember when shopping. This page tells you about:
 Deposits
Think twice about paying a deposit because if the firm goes out of business you could get little or nothing back. The best course is not to pay anything in advance unless you have to. Sometimes it's probably unavoidable - with home improvements, for example, or made-to-measure goods.
Try not to pay a deposit to a firm you know little or nothing about, particularly if the address consists simply of a box number and post code. Try to find out something about the firm: if it's local it should be listed in the phone book. Check if it belongs to a trade association which runs a scheme to protect prepayments.
Tips:
 if you do pay anything in advance make sure you get a receipt showing the company's name and address check whether deposits are returnable and, if so, in precisely what circumstances, because if you do pay a deposit and then cancel the order, the firm could claim it is entitled to keep the deposit.
If you use a credit card to pay a deposit for goods or services costing more than £100, you normally have more protection.
If you use certain other types of credit such as a linked credit agreement (in which the trader, from whom you are buying goods or services, agrees to arrange your loan with a finance company), any deposit you pay is refundable if the credit agreement is not accepted by the finance company.
Misleading prices
It's a criminal offence for traders to make misleading price claims. 'Was £120. Now £99.99!' is misleading if the goods were never provided at the higher price. It's also misleading if a trader fails to show 'hidden extras' or to make it clear when a price is conditional on, for example, another purchase.
Untrue claims
It's a criminal offence for a trader to write or say something untrue about goods or (in some circumstances) services. For example, if a car is said to have only 20,000 miles on the clock or a dry cleaners offers a 24-hour service, these statements must be true.
Estimates and quotations
An informed guess is an estimate - a rough price. But if you agree to a fixed price, this is a quotation - a fixed price is binding whatever it is called. Make sure you know which you are getting and ask for the figures to be put in writing. Check whether the prices quoted include VAT.
If you've been misled contact your trading standards department and ask them to investigate.
Buying on credit
If a trader has an arrangement with a credit card or finance company that allows you to pay by credit (for goods that cost more than £100) you have extra protection because the credit card or finance company are also liable for any claim you have against the trader.
For example, if the goods are not delivered or are not what you ordered, or a holiday was wrongly described or you didn't get what you paid for, you might be able to claim from the credit card or finance company.
Although it's a good idea to approach the trader first, you can make a claim against the credit card issuer or finance company without doing this.
Be aware - you don't have these rights if you pay with a debit card or a charge card.
Goods on order from a shop
If you order something that's not in stock or has to be delivered, like a new washing machine, you may agree a delivery date. Get this in writing because if the goods don't arrive on time, you can refuse to accept them.
Even if you don't ask for an estimated delivery date, the seller must still deliver within a reasonable time. If you think you've waited long enough, tell the seller that you want a full refund unless the item arrives within a certain period (14 days might be reasonable).
Be aware - if you do agree at this point to wait longer you cannot cancel during that time.
When you order something, you and the seller should agree a fixed price. You might agree that if the cost of the goods goes up before delivery, you'll pay the increase. In some instances the cost might not be known. Whatever the situation, make sure you know where you stand - preferably in writing.
Guarantees
Guarantees give you additional rights which could be a useful back-up if you have to complain. Guarantees should be clear, unambiguous and available for you to see before you make a purchase.
With some goods you may have a manufacturer's guarantee. Make sure, where there is a registration card for return to the manufacturer, that the seller has filled in details of the purchase - otherwise the card might not be valid.
For the guarantee to be effective, you might need to ensure that you return the registration card to a stated address. Make sure you keep the documentation supplied with the goods that tells you how to make a claim under the guarantee.
Don't choose a firm just because it guarantees its services. A 10-year guarantee for a new house extension may be worthless if the firm goes out of business. Insurance-backed guarantee schemes, however, are available through some trade associations to cover building work. For long-term schemes make sure that the insurance covers the same period as the guarantee.
Be aware - guarantees cannot be legally used to exclude or limit a shop's or dealer's liability for selling goods that are defective or do not correspond with their description.
Extended warranties
If you buy goods such as a television, cooker or washing machine, you might be offered an extended guarantee or warranty - but you might have to pay extra for this. Think carefully about the value for money offered by an extended warranty because it is likely to be expensive compared with the amount you would normally pay out in repair costs.
Some people forget that the goods they buy new have a manufacturer's guarantee that usually lasts for one year, so there is no need to buy an extended warranty when you buy the goods.
If you decide that you would like a warranty, you do not have to buy one at the shop where you bought the goods. There are a number of firms - including insurance companies and the manufacturers themselves - that sell extended warranties on everyday household goods, from toasters to computers. In some cases, they may be cheaper and more comprehensive than retailers' extended warranties. It is now also possible to buy warranties that cover a number of appliances, such as all the electrical equipment in your kitchen. So it is certainly a good idea to shop around for some quotes before signing up to a warranty.
Cashbacks
A number of extended warranties are now sold on a 'cashback' basis. With these, your premium is returned in full if you have not made a claim for a fixed period - usually five years. If you buy this type of warranty and do not make a claim, it is your responsibility to take steps to recover the premium when the time is up. Make sure you read the terms very carefully. You may only be given a short time in which to register your cashback status after signing the warranty, and you are only allowed a few weeks in which to ask for return of the premium after the five years have passed. Of course you have to remember to do this, and keep the documents safe in the meantime.
Tips:
before you sign it, check the wording carefully to see what the warranty does and does not cover
check the procedures for making a claim. Will the warranty pay for repairs up front or will you have to pay first and then claim the money back afterwards?
always keep details of any guarantee or warranty with your original receipt and any service or repair documents. Make a note of serial numbers for future reference.
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