KH Credit Union would like to make you aware that certain online companies selling products, such as colon cleansing, weight loss vitamin solutions or teeth whitening products, can have hidden agreements that can cost you hundreds of dollars.

Once you purchase these products online, you may find that you are automatically signed up for additional products and memberships, unless you uncheck them, as a result of these hidden agreements. Your debit or credit card is then charged each month for these items, which can quickly add up to hundreds of dollars charged to your account.

Whenever you shop online, make sure you read everything on the page, including the fine print, so you will know exactly what you are buying and how much it will cost – including shipping and handling. These companies are sneaky...you must read the terms of agreement to see what you are signing up for.

You can also help protect yourself by taking the following precautions:

1. Know who you are buying from
2. Pay with a credit card to limit your liabilities on fraudulent transactions
3. Print and save records of all online transactions
4. Verify the privacy policy of the seller
5. Confirm the seller has a return policy and determine if you are responsible for shipping and handling on a return or for restocking fees Validate the security of your transaction by looking for Secure Socket Layer (SSL) or Secure Electronic Transaction (SET) technology