Is the company respectable?

Sincere, unreliable or a scam - keep these things in mind

• Search online and read what other people are writing about the company.

• Make sure that there are proper contact details for the company.

• Check up total price, delivery terms and payment terms before you shop.

• Always be careful before sharing your card details.

• Remember that you do not always have the right to withdraw when shopping outside the EU.

Here are suggestions on what you can do

Read what other people think about the company

Search for the company name on the internet. That way you can find pages where other people write what they think about the company. You should also check whether the company is on social media. Customers also leave reviews and comments on social media.

Make sure to not only read customer reviews on the company's website.

Product reviews

Is the company showing product reviews on its website? If so, it has to ensure that the information actually comes from people who have purchased or used the product.

Is the company claiming that the reviews are from consumers? If so, they must also explain what they did to ensure that.

Search for complaints at the Swedish Consumer Agency

Do you want to know if other people have experienced a problem with a company? If so, you can search for complaints in the Swedish Consumer Agency's register.

In the register you can see whether other people have filed a complaint against the company. However, keep in mind that a complaint does not necessarily mean that the company has violated any rules.

Search in the Swedish Consumer Agency's register

Check contact details for the company

Check whether there are proper contact details for the company. There should be:

• telephone number

• address

• email address

• corporate registration number.

If there are no contact details you should be careful. You have no way of checking who you are buying from. And you do not know if it is possible to contact someone if there is a problem with the delivery.

You can also try phoning the company. That way you will find out if they are easy to reach.

Is there only a contact form? That could sometimes be a red flag.

Is it a Swedish company? If it is, you can compare the Swedish Tax Agency's information to those you received from the company, or in some other way.

Check the company by using the Swedish Tax Agency's e-service

Read the terms of agreement

You should always read the terms of agreement or purchase terms before buying anything from a company. Among other things, the terms should specify how and when the delivery will take place and what you need to do to withdraw from the purchase.

By reading the terms you should also receive information about what you can do if there is something wrong with the purchased item or service. If there are any additional costs included in your purchase that should also be included in the terms. The payment terms normally also specify what different pay and shipment options the company offers.

Be careful about how you pay

You should only disclose your credit card number if you are buying something. Never send your credit card details by email or contact form on a website.

If you pay with a credit card or invoice, the purchase is subject to the Consumer Credit Act. That gives you additional protection. When you have shopped on credit you can turn to the credit provider, in other words the card issuer (the bank) or the company that sent you the invoice, and demand a refund if there is a problem. Paying retroactively only works as a security for you if the item is not delivered on time or if there is something wrong with it, for example.

If you pay directly you lose the option of withholding payment if the item is incorrect or not delivered. An example of direct payment is when you pay using a card or Swish and the money is immediately withdrawn from your bank account.

Check on the right of withdrawal before the purchase

When you purchase a product online within the EU, you are usually allowed 14 days to withdraw from the purchase. However, the are exceptions from the right to withdraw.

Two examples of exceptions:

When you have broken the product's seal that are sealed due to health or hygienic reasons. When the product has been specially manufactured according to your instructions or you have received a clear personal stamp.

Check the terms of agreement to know what you should do to withdraw from the purchase. The terms should also specify whether you are paying for return shipment.

If you are shopping from a company outside the EU, other rules may apply. Check the terms of agreement to see what your rights are.

More about the right of withdrawal

Your right to file a complaint

If there is something wrong with what you have bought you can file a complaint. That means point out what is wrong with the item and you can either have it fixed, receive a new item or get your money back.

You have the right to file a complaint for at least two years if you shop from a company within the EU, Norway, Iceland or the UK. Some countries may have a longer time frame. In Sweden you have a three-year right to complain.

When you file a complaint instead of buying a new product you save money and can help contribute to a better environment. The company will be given a chance to correct the errors and will be given a push in the right direction when it comes to manufacturing and selling better products and services.

Save all of your receipts, order confirmations, payment transfers and such. That way you will be able to show that you purchased the product and when you made the purchase. If you send back a parcel you may receive a tracking number. You can use the tracking number to trace the parcel if it gets misplaced.

More about complaints

Find out where the company is located

If you are shopping within the EU you have a stronger protection compared to when you shop outside the EU. It is therefore useful to find out where the company is located. Even if the company uses Swedish on the website, it is not a guarantee that the company actually exists in Sweden.

Where the company is located is usually included in the terms. See if you can find contact details and an address for the company.

As long as a foreign company is geared towards Swedish consumers, Swedish law should apply. If a company writes in Swedish or quote prices in Swedish Krona (SEK), they should be considered geared towards Swedish consumers.

However, even though Swedish law should apply, there is no guarantee that a foreign company complies with the recommendations from the National Board for Consumer Disputes (ARN) in the event of a dispute. For that reason, you should be aware of where you are buying from.

More about purchases outside the EU