Buying things online from the US

littly_kitty

I want to buy an item from a US online store that is $650 USD. I know different credit cards charge different exchange rates. Is there a card that is best for that sort of thing?

I know MSE has this page for spending money abroad. Does the same information apply to when shopping online in the US from the UK?

Also, when buying in the US online, which offers the most protection: Credit Card, Debit card, Bank transfer or Paypal.

Coopdivi

The article you have linked to is for pre-pay credit cards. With these you load them with credit before using.

Never ever pay by bank transfer unless you implicitly trust the vendor.

Paypal is regarded as a third party organisation if you pay using a credit card. This means that you won't be covered by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act in the event of a dispute. However Paypal do have a buyer protection scheme which I believe now covers the customer for 180 days.

The best method of payment is with a conventional credit card because consumers have the protection of Section 75 as mentioned above. This means that 'your credit provider must take the same responsibility a retailer does if things go wrong with a purchase.'

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/section75-protect-your-purchases

Debit cards also offer a certain amount of protection in that you can apply for a Chargeback from your bank in the event of a dispute.

Don't forget that if you buy from outside the EU you'll have to pay 20% VAT on the total cost of your purchases including delivery unless the retailer pays it on your behalf. There may also be import duty as well. Check the vendor's website to be sure. If they don't pay it then check this website to give yourself some idea of what you may have to pay:

http://www.dutycalculator.com/

Please also bear in mind that American consumer legislation is nowhere near as good as it is in the UK. There's no such equivalent to the Distance Selling regulations and if your product becomes faulty you will have difficulty in getting a repair, replacement or refund.