Shopping online - Advice please!

talesfromtania

I just tried to purchase something from a well known website, it was my first time shopping there and when I was checking out my basket, it asked me for all the usual info, I filled everything in, name, address, mobile, email, bank card details, then pressed 'place order'

A little spinny thing went round and asked me to 'wait a moment' but after several minutes nothing happened, then it showed me the same page again, but all the fields were blank!

I haven't received an email or text and when I try to log in to the website it says that there isn't an account with my email address.

Is it safe to assume that the order didn't go through?

I can't get to the bank until tomorrow to check if any money has gone out. I'm new to online shopping and I'm worried I've made a mistake, like maybe there was a typo in my email address that I typed in or something, it's got me worried as I've only bought two things online before

What would your opinion be if you were in my situation?

ballyblack

if you haven't received an email more than likely it hasn't gone thru.

Open an account first before trying again

Is your internet upload speed Ok?

talesfromtania

Thanks, I will create an account before trying to order again. I was ordering on my phone using my data, how good the signal is varies, I was just worried I had done something wrong.

ballyblack

most likely a flaky connection................'spinning thing'

Strider590

Doing this stuff on mobile/tablet is never a good idea, the websites almost always lack many of the features and options of the desktop site, as well being more than a little buggy.

Jackmydad

Adblockers and cookie blockers can cause problems with some shopping sites.

Frozen_up_north

A couple of additional points... I use mail order extensively and mostly with a mobile phone.

It’s easier to order from just a few places, that way you are familiar with how they operate and more specifically how any returns are managed (we all end up needing to return items at times). Amazon are particularly good both on delivery and returns, but be careful to order mostly from Amazon themselves as some of their 3rd party sellers are overseas which for non EU suppliers can result in customs charges... many 3rd parties don’t show their location.

Setting up a PayPal account can be useful, you often don’t need to enter any details except to tick the PayPal box, which takes you to the PayPal site where you enter your email address and password - very quick and easy.

Uxb

...are yes but bear in mind that using an intermediary site for a payment like paypal removes your "Section 75 consumer protection" that you get when using a credit card direct on the site.

and this comment has been made on here time and time again.

I've found on a couple of occasions when the order has failed that if you ring them up they will have it on their system as a pending payment or something and then I simply gave the card dets over the phone and it was processed as a telephone type order.
I'd second the comment about creating accounts prior to ordering.