The risks of online shopping

  Hello! Online stores established in the EU do not have the right to refuse sales to customers from another member state. The ban in the EU applies only to goods. The law that protects you in Bulgaria is the Consumer Protection Act. The requirements of the Consumer Protection Act do not apply to the following services: distance selling in the field of health services, gambling activities and games of chance, lotteries and betting transactions, financial services related to banking, lending, insurance, pension insurance, tourist trips with a total price, construction of new buildings, food, beverage deliveries, etc.
When shopping with your credit or debit card, you can be sure that credit card numbers are personal data and as such are protected by law. It is advisable to check the page on which you enter the number, i.e. whether the web page address begins with https:// instead of the standard http:// - this indicates that your communication on the Internet is encrypted.

Before purchasing the goods, the web page must require the user to confirm that he understands that the order is for payment. This requirement is considered to be met if the order button states "order with payment obligation" or has a similar message such as "buy now", "pay now" or "purchase confirmation". If the online ordering web page does not meet these requirements, users are not bound by the order. We recommend that users of online services make sure before placing an order whether the online merchant has indicated valid telephone numbers and a postal address for correspondence in the event of a possible return of the goods. The Personal Data Protection Commission certifies Personal Data Administrators and carries out checks on their activities. The CPDP is also the state authority to which you should turn if you have reasonable suspicions related to the processing of your data by a specific administrator. You could do so by filing a complaint. If the complaint is submitted electronically, it is signed with an electronic signature. Anonymous complaints are not considered by the CPDP.

Another body for the protection of your personal data is the European Consumer Centre. With our acceptance as a member state of the EU, our country meets the European and national requirements provided for in conventions, regulations, directives, laws and other regulatory acts. In the event of fraud during online shopping, you must immediately notify your bank. You have the right to dispute the amount of the transaction you made. You must fill out a form, the content of which is formatted differently by different banks. The form must include information about the disputed transaction, the reason for the dispute and, if possible, other documents in this regard.

This article examines some aspects of the topic and does not represent full analysis of the problem. 

Author: Petya Stoevska, Dr. Sc