BEWARE THE AMAZON FRAUD TRAP

Money Mail, June 27

AMAZON’S response was wholly inadequate. It knows that it has a monopoly position on some goods and treats its customers with contempt.

M. L., Loughborough, Leics.

SOME people swear by Amazon, some people swear at Amazon. Just be on your guard for any unauthorised online activity and be prepared to respond quickly — time can be crucial in fraud cases. But it is clear that banks and online vendors need to clean up their act because their customer service is below par.

B. W., Brighton, E. Sussex.

AMAZON says a dispatch note is proof of delivery. A dispatch note proves nothing and, if Amazon, like every other company using a signed-for delivery service, thinks that some illegible scrawl on one of those ridiculous handheld machines would stand up in court, good luck with that.

H. G., Manchester.

TO STAY safe when shopping online, I always use PayPal where possible. I also have a special account with a different bank to my main one, where I keep a little bit of money that I use only for online shopping.

G. W., Truro, Cornwall.

I’VE been an Amazon customer for years and have never had a problem. I once had to return a very inexpensive item and was refunded immediately. It is always very nice and helpful.

S. F., by email.

THE simple way around this is not to save your credit card details on any website. Or you could use a card where you have to transfer money into the account before making a purchase. Then, at a near-zero balance, if someone tries to use your card, the payment will fail.

M. S., Leeds.

WHEN I have had minor issues with Amazon, a quick online chat has sorted them out promptly and efficiently, with no fuss.

O. C., Wolverhampton.

WRITE to Tony Hazell at Ask Tony, Money Mail, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT or email asktony@dailymail.co.uk — please include your daytime phone number, postal address and a separate note addressed to the offending organisation giving them permission to talk to Tony Hazell. We regret we cannot reply to individual letters. Please do not send original documents as we cannot take responsibility for them. No legal responsibility can be accepted by the Daily Mail for answers given.