The retail sector is under stress at present so check your supplier is likely to be around long enough to complete the order. Ensure the gap between payment and delivery is as short as possible. Wherever possible, just pay a deposit. Put in a claim to the receiver as soon as possible if the company goes under. If the goods are ready to be delivered, a trip to the warehouse might be in order. If the goods are worth between £100 and £30,000, pay by credit card. Visa debit and Visa Mastercard credit cards are good for items under £100. Most package holiday firms offer ABTA and/or ATOL protection. Financial services are run by the FSA 

 

Away from retail, package holidays, are generally protected by ABTA or ATOL (or both). There are schemes in place to either give holidaymakers their money back or fly them back from wherever they were. Note that this protection does not apply to tickets bought for standalone flights, or those booked directly with an airline, so again using a credit card is a good option. 

 

Rules for distance buying, online or over the phone, are similar to those on the high street. Buying large items with a credit card is still a good idea, wherever the company resides, and provided the company is based in the UK, you can make a claim to the receiver as usual. Again, do your research. Insolvency experts CSEJ think consumers should be aware of their rights in these difficult times.