The Internet and the telephone have drastically changed the way people shop. Catalogue sales are a multi-billion pound business. The click of the mouse and the 24/7 free phone number allow us to shop from our homes at any hour of the day or night.

Millions of shoppers benefit from the convenience of catalogue shopping. However, a few precautions can help ensure that your experiences are positive.

You should familiarize yourself with the company's return and privacy policies. The privacy policy should reveal how your information is being collected and how that information is being used.

Pay by credit card when possible, whether you are shopping online or by telephone. This will enable you to dispute charges to your credit card under certain guidelines and withhold payment pending the creditor's investigation.

Be sure to print out a copy of the purchase form or order verification for your records.

If delivery is delayed, you must be notified of the new delivery date and you must also be allowed to cancel the order.

As you scan a catalogue, be sure to read the fine print of the product picture. Many items are enlarged and not pictured at their actual size. Look for actual dimensions and inquire if they are not provided.

Be wary of outlandish promises, especially when used in conjunction with health-related items. These types of products are notorious for not delivering as advertised and may actually be a health risk. This applies to many quick weight-loss or bodybuilding supplements. As always, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is not true.

Don't fall for price comparisons between "list price" and "suggested retail price." Very few items are sold at the manufacturer's suggested retail price. However, sellers will often use these terms in promotional ploys to make the catalogue price seem like a bargain. To verify savings, compare a product's price in the catalogue to its price in local shops. You might be surprised.

Sometimes a business will ship an item that you did not order in hopes that you will pay for it. According to federal law, you may consider unordered merchandise a gift. In addition, you are not required to notify the seller that you did nor order the merchandise and do not intend to pay for it. It is a good idea to do so in writing, however, to prevent the merchant from billing you in the future.

If you have been ripped off by a catalogue company, you can file a complaint with the Office of fair trading. www.oft.gov.uk

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