From its not-so-humble beginnings, online shopping has made rapid progress, offering more secure, user-friendly shopping experiences for consumers. With a click of a mouse you can now buy an airline ticket, book a hotel room, send a fruit basket to your family or buy the latest bestseller.

Consumer spending online is up. Indeed, last year saw end-of-year online holiday spending weigh in at nearly $7 billion dollars, up nearly 40% from the previous year. Americans are spending more per order, as well, with an average of $126 dollars per online order.

If you haven't shopped online before, or if you were turned off by a bad experience, retailers have made significant strides in making the experience easier than ever before. With studies showing that more than 50% off all online shopping carts are abandoned before checkout, online merchants have quietly beefed-up their product pages with better images and descriptions, simplified online forms and streamlined page designs.

Good deals, convenience and choices abound. Still, there are some guidelines you'll want to follow as you click away and shop online. One rule to remember is to check your credit report regularly if you're using your credit card to shop. See your credit file here with your FREE credit report! Here are additional tips to help make your online shopping experience safe and trouble free.

• Use a Secure Browser
  A "browser" is the software you use to navigate the Internet. Make sure you're using the most recent version of your browser (Microsoft Explorer and Netscape Navigator are popular choices) before you begin shopping. These browsers offer the latest security standards, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), which encrypts information, such as credit card numbers, that you transmit over the Internet. When you're sending information over a secure link, most browsers will show a highlighted "lock" symbol at the bottom of the screen.
• Shop With Companies You Know
  Most of the larger merchants are online now, so you can visit your favorite mall or discount store's website anytime. If you're not familiar with an online store, read its privacy policy and check for third-party approvals, such as VeriSign.
• Find Out About Shipping and Refund Policies Before You Order
  A company's policies should be posted on their site. Many online merchants are offering free shipping with some orders, so shop around before you buy.
• What's the Company's Privacy Policy?
  This policy should disclose what personal information the site collects and how that information is used. Before you provide a company with personal information, check its privacy policy. If you can't find a policy, email the site for details or consider shopping somewhere else.
• Keep Your Passwords Private
  When asked to create a user name and password, be creative and never give out this information. Avoid using a telephone number, birth date, or a portion of your Social Security number. Instead, use a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols.
• Pay by Credit or Charge Card
  If you pay by credit or charge card online, your transaction will be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. Under this law, consumers have the right to dispute charges under certain circumstances and temporarily withhold payment while the creditor is investigating them. In the event of unauthorized use of your credit or charge card, you are generally held liable only for the first $50 in charges.
• Keep a Record
  Be sure to print a copy of your purchase order and confirmation number for your records. Also, you should know that the federal Mail/Telephone Order Merchandise Rule covers online orders. This means that unless stated otherwise, merchandise must be delivered within 30 days; and if there are delays, the company must notify you.

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