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What is the Safer Shopping scheme?
The Safer Shopping scheme is intended to make shopping online for products and services much safer. If a website displays the "Safer Shopping Approved" logo, then it means that it has been checked by us and meets all of the requirements of our code of practice.
What are the benefits of becoming "Safer Shopping Approved"?
By becoming "Safer Shopping Approved", you will be able to show potential customers that you are a trustworthy, responsible business that cares about the needs of it's customers, understands the value of customer service and that your website is a "safe" place to shop online.
It is widely recognised through independant research that online stores which display a genuine accreditation logo sell significantly more than stores that don't.
What does the Safer Shopping Approved logo look like?
It looks like this ...
Can any website display the Safer Shopping Approved logo?
No, websites are only legally allowed to display the Safer Shopping Approved logo with our permission. To get our permission, they must make sure that their website complies with everything mentioned in our code of practice. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of a Safer Shopping logo, please contact us.
How does a customer know that a website is really allowed to display the logo?
When a customer sees the "Safer Shopping Approved" logo on a website they can click on it to check whether or not the retailer is genuinely Safer Shopping Approved. If they are, then they will be shown a certificate that gives details of the membership.
How does the scheme enable me to reassure shoppers that our payments are safe?
See this page of our website - Security
How does the scheme help reassure my customers that we provide good customer service?
See this page of our website - Customer Service
What are the requirements to become "Safer Shopping Approved"?
To become a "Safer Shopping Approved" retailer, you must ensure that your website complies with our code of practice and agree to abide by that code. When you apply to join the scheme we will check your website and tell you what (if anything) you need to change before your application will be accepted.
Does it cost anything to become "Safer Shopping Approved"?
Yes, we do charge a one-off fee of £75 that covers the cost of monitoring all approved websites, general administration of the scheme and dispute resolution service. The reason that the Which? Webtrader scheme closed down in 2003 was that they didn't charge for membership and couldn't afford to continue running their scheme.
What other websites have joined?
You'll find a directory of Safer Shopping Approved retailers here
How does the application process work?
See this page of our website - How To Apply
What if a customer makes a complaint about a retailer?
The first thing a customer should do if they experience a problem with a Safer Shopping Approved retailer is contact the retailer directly. They may not be aware of the diificulties the customer is experiencing and will be only too happy to put things right. If the customer is still unhappy with the retailer they can register their complaint with us. We will work on your behalf (free of charge) to help resolve the complaint. Click here to find out more about our Dispute Resolution service.
Is the Safer Shopping scheme backed by any governing body?
No, we are fiercely independant and have taken the decision to "go it alone". Several alternative schemes exist, some of which are Trust UK (a government endorsed organisation) approved. As far as we can see, none of these schemes have captured the imagination of the British public in the way that Which? Webtrader (who was also independant) did. By avoiding the complications caused by being governed by a body who is also governed by someone else, we can spend less time dealing with bureaucracy and more time doing what we set out to achieve.
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