How to Check out a Web Business
When shopping via the Internet for goods and services, it's best to investigate the Web business and its history before making a purchase. Don't provide an Internet merchant your credit card number or PIN number if the company has a history of fraud and consumer complaints. Identifying a security or lock icon on a website is not the only way to check out a Web business. You can also use several state and private agencies to check the business' background.
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Instructions
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Visit the Better Business Bureau's (BBB) website, which features a free online business database. The Better Business Bureau investigates consumer complaints against Internet businesses as well as bricks-and-mortar firms.
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Enter the Web business' complete Web address into the BBB's search field. If you only have a partial Web address, perform an advanced search. Plug in as much of the Web address as you know to open your search request to companies whose business name contains one or more of your search words. Choose from the list of results.
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Contact the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs serving the state from where the Web business operates. Look up the website's dedicated business address on the "Contact Us" page of the website, which most reputable Web businesses provide. The dedicated business address is typically where complaints are received and the location from which goods are shipped.
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Check for a high volume of consumer complaints. State attorney general offices investigate complaints against charities and commercial ventures, including Internet businesses. Visit the attorney general's website in the state where the Web business is based.
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Tips & Warnings
States such as Illinois require business owners who conduct business via the Internet to register their business with the Department of Revenue.
References
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