If you're shopping online, then you need to check out the site before you hand over your credit-card details. First, make sure you have a name and geographical address for a site. Most reputable sites will include contact details such as a telephone number and an e-mail address.

Double-check the cost of the item, the currency of payment and methods of payment. If you're buying from outside the EU, VAT and customs duty will be levied at the point of entry. How much will delivery cost?

Look for information on security measures and encryption systems for data transmission. Secure sites will have the "padlock" symbol in the bottom right-hand corner or elsewhere on the site.

Credit-card fraud is a criminal offence. As a cardholder you are not generally not liable in the event of fraudulent use of your credit card. Provided you have not acted negligently or fraudulently and you report the problem to your credit-card company, your liability should not be more than €150 (about £118).

You should ask for a receipt and confirmation of your order. Does the company have a complaints procedure? How about a privacy policy? You should be able to exercise your right to refuse further communication from the company or from a third party - often giving your details to a site can open you to a barrage of junk e-mail.

If you do get faulty goods, or they're not as described, then the European Consumer Centre says you should complain immediately to the trader, because your rights to redress diminish over time.

Goods should be delivered within a reasonable length of time. If the supplier does not adhere to the delivery deadline specified, then you can cancel your order and ask for your money back.

Finally, if you don't get satisfaction, you can complain to the European Consumer Centre or the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has produced extensive guidelines for consumer protection in the context of ecommerce. These are designed to "help ensure that consumers are no less protected when shopping online than they are when buying from their local store or ordering from a catalogue".

In the future, if these guidelines are adopted as law, consumers will have certain minimum rights no matter where they shop.

Useful websites: www.ecic.ie - www.odca.ie