Online order tip: Watch what you're ticking when you click 'order'

Packages flow on an assembly line in preparation for their postage at the Amazon logistics centre in Pforzheim, Germany. — dpa

Consumer protection experts say you should always check exactly what kinds of boxes you're ticking before ordering something. Here's what happens if you don't pay attention.

You've probably experienced this frustrating situation before: You click on “order” but nothing happens. That’s because you've forgotten to tick the box agreeing to certain conditions. Or perhaps you didn't accept the vendor’s data privacy statement.

However, it’s precisely at this point that retailers often try to get you to sign up to newsletters that will ultimately spam your inbox with unwanted ads.

That’s why you should always check exactly what kinds of boxes you're ticking before ordering something.

There are also cases where companies send ads even when the customer hasn't agreed to this while placing an order – and even against the expressed wishes of the consumer.

While online consumer protection laws vary drastically around the world, companies are generally required to inform consumers in a precise, transparent and easily understandable manner about how much of their data they have and how they use it. – dpa