Spoke with Karl and Georgie on the Today Show about buying gear online and the types of ways you can pay for it.
Currently, two of the best ways is via PayClicks, which is a Visa-run system, and Paypal, which is owned by eBay.
Payclicks allows you to shop online using your Visa credit card. You top up the account as you go, and Visa promises it is one of the most secure ways you can do transactions over the Internet. It also allows you to open an account for your child if they are under 18. The child can spend the money, but they do not have access to the credit card, so it is up to the parent to add – or even subtract – credit from the card. There is also an online transaction list so you can see what you child has been buying.
Paypal used to be exclusive to eBay, but over the past couple of years have opened up the payment system to a whole array of merchants. In Australia the likes of Bing Lee, Big W, Dick Smith and JB Hifi accept Paypal as a form of online payment. If there is a dispute about the items that have been bought online, the company will cover costs of up to $20,000 depending on the circumstances.
You can always use your credit card over the ‘net, too. However a credit card is not as secure at the above methods of payment, so I would suggest you get a credit card with a small limit on it just in case it goes pear-shaped.