Is online shopping safe?
Online shopping is generally safe. Security measures have improved considerably since the early days of the Internet, where a lack of encryption and security regulations made Internet shopping risky.
In 2002, a set of ecommerce regulations came into force in the UK that offered greater safety to online consumers. These regulations apply to any online retailer of any size and require the disclosure of various details, including the name of the service provider, the address of the provider, contact details of the business, a registration number, and VAT number. However, there are still some risks.
Ecommerce risks
The risks for online shoppers out there, with fraudulent websites and data leaks remaining a persistent problem. Online consumers are more at risk of accidentally buying fakes or replicas online due to trusting a photograph rather than inspecting the item in real life. Purchasing items that don't match the description, or goods that are damaged or unsuitable, is also a risk when it comes to making online purchases.
If you are browsing the web using an unsecured Internet connection, such as a free Wi-Fi hotspot in a public place, then try to avoid making any online purchases. Public Wi-Fi is more vulnerable to attack by hackers or malicious software and could put you at an increased risk of fraud, so try to save any retail therapy for a night in.
How to tell if a website is safe?
There are many clues to identify whether a website is safe before making a purchase. Below are the features to be aware of when performing due diligence on ecommerce websites:
Check for a privacy statement
Look out for a privacy statement on any website you are planning to make a purchase from. A privacy statement detailing how the business collects, uses, and protects sensitive financial information should be readily available from any retailer – so if you're struggling to find one, this could be a bad sign.
Look for an address and phone number
Legitimate retailers almost always have a contact number and physical address visible in the header or footer of the website. If you have any reservations about the legitimacy of a website, copy and paste the address into a search engine to see if the given location is accurate. This is a good indication of a legitimate website, as unreliable sellers will often be online only to avoid detection, or use a fake address.
Does the website accept credit cards?
Credit cards are the safest method of making online purchases, as it's easier for credit card companies to refund any money lost due to fraud. Websites that don't accept credit cards should raise a red flag, as it's often more difficult for fraudulent websites to become certified by credit card companies.
Try to use trusted retailers
If possible, try to buy from retailers you have heard of, especially those with a reputation for customer service. If you're looking for a specialist item that is only available on an independent website, be as diligent as possible before handing over any financial information.
Frequent spelling or grammatical errors in the product descriptions or website copy can be a good indication as to the quality of a website. Websites that appear to be written in broken English should be avoided, as well as websites that don't include unique photographs of the product, the ability to leave reviews, or an advertised returns policy.
Be suspicious of deals that are "too good to be true"
The adage that if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is, rings true when it comes to ecommerce safety. Be cautious of any website that appears to be selling well-known brands or designer items for considerably less than the retail price. If you discover a website that stocks popular items for very low prices, there's a risk you're handing over money for fakes or replicas.
Common sense is usually enough to avoid being misled by these pitfalls. We'd also recommend searching for the same item at different retailers to give you an impression of the average price..
Look for a certificate of authentication
Legitimate ecommerce websites will often have a "trust mark" on the footer, header, or checkout pages on the website. These marks are accreditations from Internet security bodies (such as Norton, McAfee, TRUSTe, Trustwave), and should give an indication that this website is trustworthy.
Some fraudulent websites may attempt to deceive users by including similar trust marks on their website. To ensure the logos are legitimate, try clicking on them – if the trust symbols are authentic, you should be taken to another website that explains the accreditation and what it means.
Check for an SSL Certificate
An SSL Certificate is also a good indicator of trust and legitimacy on a website. There are two easy methods of determining whether a website has SSL certification. Firstly, an icon of a locked padlock should be present in the URL bar at the top of your web browser. Another method of identifying a website with an SSL Certification is the domain name:
- Secure websites begin with: https://
- Unsecured websites begin with: http://
What is an SSL Certificate?
An SSL (secure sockets layer) is an encryption method that all online retailers who deal with credit or debit card details must have. An SSL encryption stops hackers from accessing your personal or financial information, ensuring your details are secure and safe.
Check out the reviews
While these tips can give you practical visual clues to look out for, reviews and personal accounts from other users are an excellent way of staying safe while shopping online. Websites like Trustpilot can be a useful resource when looking for further information about a website you haven't used before – it's a great place to read reviews and personal experiences concerning a huge variety of Internet retailers.
Find out more about browsing safely online by reading 'what is internet safety' guide.
Here’s the legal bit
You can see our full residential terms and conditions here.
*On 31st March 2023, the price for broadband, line rental, call plans, call charges and BT Sport services will be increased by the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation published by the Office for National Statistics in January 2023, plus 3.9%. For details and an example of how these increases work see our CPI Plus 3.9% Guide.
Line rental is included in all our broadband packages, apart from our Full Fibre packages. The standard line rental price is £23.19 a month and the standard line rental price, or where applicable the discounted line rental price, is included in the package price.
Unlimited Fibre Extra (12 and 18 month contracts)
Prices and terms are subject to change during your contract.
For new Plusnet customers that sign up for 12 or 18 months (as appropriate). Line rental is included in the price (line only, no calls included). Price from month 13 or 19 (as appropriate) currently £47.54 a month (incl. line rental). Compatible line required otherwise a £49.99 installation charge may apply (excluding any external construction charges). We'll include a wireless router. Outside of your 14 day cancellation period, if you choose to end your service within the minimum period, you will have to pay an early termination charge.
The date your broadband and line rental activates, or where your services do not activate at the same time, the service that activates first, will be used as your monthly billing date. If your broadband or line rental service are not activated at the same time, for the service that is activated at a later date, charges will be pro rated for the first month and any applicable discounts for that service will apply once the service starts.
Subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. No cash alternative. Exclusions and terms apply.
Unlimited Fibre (12 and 18 month contracts)
Prices and terms are subject to change during your contract.
For new Plusnet customers that sign up for 12 or 18 months (as appropriate). Line rental is included in the price (line only, no calls included). Price from month 13 or 19 (as appropriate) currently £41.75 a month (incl. line rental). Compatible line required otherwise a £49.99 installation charge may apply (excluding any external construction charges). We'll include a wireless router. Outside of your 14 day cancellation period, if you choose to end your service within the minimum period, you will have to pay an early termination charge.
The date your broadband and line rental activates, or where your services do not activate at the same time, the service that activates first, will be used as your monthly billing date. If your broadband or line rental service are not activated at the same time, for the service that is activated at a later date, charges will be pro rated for the first month and any applicable discounts for that service will apply once the service starts.
Subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. No cash alternative. Exclusions and terms apply.
Unlimited Broadband (12 and 18 month contracts)
Prices and terms are subject to change during your contract.
For new Plusnet customers that sign up for 12 or 18 months (as appropriate). Line rental is included in the price (line only, no calls included). Price from month 13 or 19 (as appropriate) currently £35.93 a month (incl. line rental). Compatible line required otherwise a £49.99 installation charge may apply (excluding any external construction charges). We'll include a wireless router. Outside of your 14 day cancellation period, if you choose to end your service within the minimum period, you will have to pay an early termination charge.
The date your broadband and line rental activates, or where your services do not activate at the same time, the service that activates first, will be used as your monthly billing date. If your broadband or line rental service are not activated at the same time, for the service that is activated at a later date, charges will be pro rated for the first month and any applicable discounts for that service will apply once the service starts.
Subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. No cash alternative. Exclusions and terms apply.
Full Fibre Broadband (12, 18 and 24 month contracts)
Prices and terms are subject to change during your contract.
For new Plusnet customers that sign up for 12, 18 or 24 months (as appropriate). Price from month 13,19 or 25 (as appropriate) currently: Full Fibre 36 - £27, Full Fibre 74 - £30, Full Fibre 145 - £35, Full Fibre 300 - £40, Full Fibre 500 - £47, Full Fibre 900 - £55. Compatible line required. Otherwise an installation is required We'll include a wireless router. Outside of your 14 day cancellation period, if you choose to end your service within the minimum period, you will have to pay an early termination charge.
Subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. No cash alternative. Exclusions and terms apply.
Openreach Survey: In some cases Openreach have to carry out a survey before they can connect a home to Full Fibre. To do this they may need access to your property. If they do we'll contact you to arrange a suitable time. If additional work is required, this may take longer than the initial set-up time provided and there could be additional costs. Our team of specialists will contact you to confirm what additional work is needed and how long this will take, usually within four weeks from the date your order was placed. If you don't want to proceed with your upgrade based on this, you will be able to cancel your order and no charges will be applied to your account.
Unlimited Broadband (no contract)
Prices and terms are subject to change during your contract.
For new Plusnet customers that sign up for a 30-day rolling contract. Line rental is included in the price (line only, no calls included). Price from month 13 currently £37.68 a month (incl. line rental). Compatible line required otherwise a £49.99 installation charge may apply (excluding any external construction charges). We'll include a wireless router. You may terminate your services at any time without having to pay an early termination charge. Outside your 14 day cancellation period, you'll have to give at least 14 days' notice.
The date your broadband and line rental activates, or where your services do not activate at the same time, the service that activates first, will be used as your monthly billing date. If your broadband or line rental service are not activated at the same time, for the service that is activated at a later date, charges will be pro rated for the first month and any applicable discounts for that service will apply once the service starts.
Subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. No cash alternative. Exclusions and terms apply.
Existing customers
Please see our price guide, log into your account in the Member Centre or call us on 0800 073 1120 to discuss your contract.
Speeds
Φ Broadband speed is described as 'average download speed of 10Mb', as it is based on speed available to at least 50% of customers at peak time (8-10pm). Your actual speed will be dependent on your location, phone line, home wiring, Wi-Fi connection and time of day. Find out why speeds vary. Check your speed and products available at your location via 'check availability' on our home page.
† Fibre broadband speed is described as 'average download speed of 66Mb' and 'average upload speed of 18Mb' on Unlimited Fibre Extra and 'average download speed of 36Mb' and 'average upload speed of 9Mb' on Unlimited Fibre as it is based on speed available to at least 50% of customers at peak time (8-10pm). Your actual speed will be dependent on your location, phone line, home wiring, Wi-Fi connection and time of day. Find out why speeds vary. Check your speed and products available at your location via 'check availability' on our home page.
Ө Up to 6x faster: based on a comparison between the average Unlimited Fibre Extra download speeds with the average Unlimited Broadband speeds. The actual speed you'll get depends on your location, phone line, home wiring, Wi-Fi connection and time of day. Find out why speeds vary. Check your speed and products available at your location via 'check availability' on our home page.
** Plusnet Reward Card
Once your broadband and line rental are activated you will be issued claim information via email. Follow the instructions in this email to be issued with your Plusnet Reward Card. You must submit your claim within two months of the email being issued. The card must be activated within three months of it being issued.
Your Plusnet Reward Card is issued by GVS Prepaid Ltd, an Electronic Money Institution authorised in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority with Firm Reference number 900230; pursuant to license from Mastercard International. Mastercard ® is a registered trademark of Mastercard International Inc. GVS Prepaid Ltd's company registration number is 09193070 and its registered office is at Westside, London Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 9TD. See Plusnet Reward Card terms.
£50 Plusnet Reward Card with Unlimited Fibre
£50 Plusnet Reward Card offer ends 31 July 2023, and is available to new Plusnet customers ordering Unlimited Fibre on an 18 month contract online at www.plus.net or by calling Plusnet. Subject to availability.
£25 Plusnet Reward Card with Unlimited Fibre
£25 Plusnet Reward Card offer ends 15 January 2025, and is available to new Plusnet customers ordering Unlimited Fibre on an 18 month contract online at www.plus.net or by calling Plusnet. Subject to availability.
£60 Plusnet Reward Card with Unlimited Fibre Extra
£60 Plusnet Reward Card offer ends 29 March 2023, and is available to new Plusnet customers ordering Unlimited Fibre Extra on an 18 month contract online at www.plus.net or by calling Plusnet. Subject to availability.
£50 Plusnet Reward Card with Unlimited Fibre Extra
£50 Plusnet Reward Card offer ends 31 July 2023, and is available to new Plusnet customers ordering Unlimited Fibre Extra on an 18 month contract online at www.plus.net or by calling Plusnet. Subject to availability.
£25 Plusnet Reward Card with Unlimited Fibre Extra
£25 Plusnet Reward Card offer ends 15 January 2025, and is available to new Plusnet customers ordering Unlimited Fibre Extra on an 18 month contract online at www.plus.net or by calling Plusnet. Subject to availability.
£60 Plusnet Reward Card with Full Fibre 74
£60 Plusnet Reward Card offer ends 29 March 2023, and is available to new Plusnet customers ordering Full Fibre 74 on a 24 month contract online at www.plus.net or by calling Plusnet. Subject to availability.
£70 Plusnet Reward Card with Full Fibre 145
£70 Plusnet Reward Card offer ends 15 February 2023, and is available to new Plusnet customers ordering Full Fibre 145 on a 24 month contract online at www.plus.net or by calling Plusnet. Subject to availability.
£75 Plusnet Reward Card with Full Fibre 145
£75 Plusnet Reward Card offer ends 15 February 2023, and is available to new Plusnet customers ordering Full Fibre 145 on a 24 month contract online at www.plus.net or by calling Plusnet. Subject to availability.
£75 Plusnet Reward Card with Full Fibre 145
£75 Plusnet Reward Card offer ends 29 March 2023, and is available to new Plusnet customers ordering Full Fibre 145 on a 24 month contract online at www.plus.net or by calling Plusnet. Subject to availability.
£70 Plusnet Reward Card with Full Fibre 500
£70 Plusnet Reward Card offer ends 15 February 2023, and is available to new Plusnet customers ordering Full Fibre 500 on a 24 month contract online at www.plus.net or by calling Plusnet. Subject to availability.
£75 Plusnet Reward Card with Full Fibre 500
£75 Plusnet Reward Card offer ends 29 March 2023, and is available to new Plusnet customers ordering Full Fibre 500 on a 24 month contract online at www.plus.net or by calling Plusnet. Subject to availability.
Amazon.co.uk Gift Card
Once your broadband and line rental are activated you will be issued claim information via email. Follow the instructions in this email to be issued with your Amazon.co.uk Gift Card. You must submit your claim within two months of the email being issued. The card must be activated within three months of it being issued.
Amazon.co.uk is not a sponsor of Plusnet, line rental vouchers promotion or otherwise affiliated with Plusnet. The logos and other identifying marks attached are trademarks of and owned by each represented company and/or its affiliates. Please visit the Amazon.co.uk website for additional terms and conditions.
Amazon.co.uk Gift Cards may be redeemed on the Amazon.co.uk website towards the purchase of eligible products available on Amazon.co.uk. Gift Cards cannot be reloaded, resold, transferred for value, redeemed for cash or applied to any other account. Amazon.co.uk is not responsible if a gift card is lost, stolen, destroyed or used without permission. See Amazon's website for complete terms and conditions. Gift Cards are issued by Amazon EU S. à r.l. All Amazon ®, ™ and © are IP of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Cashback Cheque
Once your broadband and line rental are activated you will be issued claim information via email. Follow the instructions in this email to be issued with your cashback cheque. You must submit your claim within two months of the email being issued.
Please note that your cashback cheque may be automatically sent to you without having to claim for it as set out above. If this applies, this will be confirmed to you in the order journey.
£25 Plusnet Cashback Cheque with Unlimited Fibre
£25 Plusnet Cashback Cheque offer ends 15 January 2025, and is available to new Plusnet customers ordering Unlimited Fibre on a 18 month contract online at www.plus.net or by calling Plusnet. Subject to availability.
£25 Plusnet Cashback Cheque with Unlimited Fibre Extra
£25 Plusnet Cashback Cheque offer ends 15 January 2025, and is available to new Plusnet customers ordering Unlimited Fibre Extra on a 18 month contract online at www.plus.net or by calling Plusnet. Subject to availability.
Broadband Extras
Plusnet Safeguard
Included with all of our broadband packages, Plusnet Safeguard filters inappropriate web content for your household. Further information can be found here.
Plusnet Protect powered by Norton™
Our security package protects you from online threats. Charges apply for Unlimited Fibre broadband customers. Further information can be found here.
Evening & Weekend UK & Mobile calls:
Evening & Weekend calls: Calls of up to an hour to UK landlines beginning with 01, 02, 03, 0845 and 0870 numbers made Monday-Friday 7pm to 7am and any time Saturday or Sunday (except calls to indirect access numbers (which include calling cards) and dial-up internet access). Calls must be started and finished within these times to be inclusive (non-chargeable). A fair usage limit of 150 calls or 1000 minutes a month (whichever is reached first) applies to calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers (if you exceed this limit, we have the right to charge you for further calls made, suspend and/or terminate your service in accordance with our terms and conditions).
Mobile calls: Calls to UK mobiles and 070 personal numbering services made Monday-Friday 7pm to 7am and any time Saturday or Sunday. Calls must be started and finished within these times to be inclusive (non-chargeable). A fair usage limit of 1000 minutes a month applies (if you exceed this limit, we have the right to charge you for further calls made, suspend and/or terminate your service in accordance with our terms and conditions). Hang up and re-dial before 60 minutes and you won't be charged. Some 07 numbers do not constitute mobile numbers and may not be included as part of an inclusive mobile package.
Unlimited UK & Mobile calls:
Anytime calls: Calls of up to an hour to UK landlines beginning with 01, 02, 03, 0845 and 0870 numbers at any time (except calls to indirect access numbers (which include calling cards) and dial-up internet access). Calls must be started and finished within these times to be inclusive (non-chargeable). A fair usage limit of 150 calls or 1000 minutes a month (whichever is reached first) applies to calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers (if you exceed this limit, we have the right to charge you for further calls made, suspend and/or terminate your service in accordance with our terms and conditions).
Mobile calls: Calls to UK mobiles and 070 personal numbering services made at any time. Calls must be started and finished within these times to be inclusive (non-chargeable). A fair usage limit of 2000 minutes a month applies (if you exceed this limit, we have the right to charge you for further calls made, suspend and/or terminate your service in accordance with our terms and conditions). Hang up and re-dial before 60 minutes and you won't be charged. Some 07 numbers do not constitute mobile numbers and may not be included as part of an inclusive mobile package.
Anytime International 300:
Anytime calls: Calls of up to an hour to UK landlines beginning with 01, 02, 03, 0845 and 0870 numbers at any time (except calls to indirect access numbers (which include calling cards) and dial-up internet access). Calls must be started and finished within these times to be inclusive (non-chargeable). A fair usage limit of 150 calls or 1000 minutes a month (whichever is reached first) applies to calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers (if you exceed this limit, we have the right to charge you for further calls made, suspend and/or terminate your service in accordance with our terms and conditions).
25% discount to top 35 international destinations: (Anytime International 300) Get a 25% discount on chargeable calls to all countries listed in our top 35 international destinations. For more information see our tariffs guide.
300 Anytime minutes: (Anytime International 300) Means 300 inclusive minutes to USA mobiles, Canada mobiles and all landlines listed in our top 35 international destinations. Hang up and re-dial before 60 minutes and you won't be charged.
Other call information:
Mobile minutes: Are available to Line Only and the Anytime International 300 call plan and adds 100 inclusive minutes to UK mobile numbers and 070 personal numbering services at any time. Hang up and re-dial before 60 minutes and you won't be charged. Some 07 numbers do not constitute mobile numbers and may not be included as part of an inclusive mobile package.
Service calls outside of your inclusive minutes: The charge for calls to service numbers beginning 084, 087, 09 and 118 consists of a 9.58p per minute access charge from Plusnet, plus a service charge set by the company you called. For more information visit www.plus.net/ukcalling.
Calls to Plusnet Support and other Plusnet line rental customers are included in all line rental packages. Calls to other Plusnet phone customers are included for the first hour. Hang up and re-dial before 60 minutes and you won't be charged.
For more information on our landline tariffs, see our guide here.
For more information on call rates for service numbers, see our guide here.
Phone Line Extras
Voicemail
1571 Voicemail: Included as standard, our answer phone-style feature takes messages when you can't get to the phone.
Voicemail Extra: This advanced voicemail service lets you record your own greeting, store up to 30 messages and listen to them when you're not at home. Voicemail Extra costs £3 a month. Further information about Voicemail Extra can be found here.
Caller Display
See the number of the person who is calling you (you'll need a phone that supports this service). Further information about Caller Display can be found here. Subject to availability.
Plusnet Call Protect
Included in all line rental packages, this blocks nuisance calls on your landline and sends them straight into your junk voicemail. Further information about Plusnet Call Protect can be found here. Subject to availability.
BT Sport from Plusnet on the Sky Digital Satellite Platform
BT Sport is available to existing UK Plusnet residential broadband customers with a Sky satellite receiver box, a satellite dish installed and an active viewing card. No access to any online content is made available by BT via www.bt.com/sport/ or via the BT Sport App. Excludes Multi-room. There is a minimum term of one month starting from your next billing date following sign up.
† BT Sport HD requires a Sky HD satellite receiver box, HD cabling and an HD-ready television to view the HD channels.
You don't need a Sky viewing card to order, but if you already have one you'll need to give us the viewing card number.
BT Sport App from Plusnet
BT Sport App from Plusnet is available to existing UK Plusnet residential broadband customers. There is a minimum one month term starting from your next billing date following sign-up. Monthly rolling contract.
You can access BT Sport online or via the BT Sport App in the UK and in over 25 European destinations. Requires minimum 400Kbps line speed or good Wi-Fi/3G/4G signal and a compatible device. Maximum of two devices may be used simultaneously. Must be aged 17 or over. TV licence required. Terms apply.