ive purchased an item from a website for my mother but i havnt recieved the item the site wont answer e mails or telephone calls, have i been had? the site looked genuine
What website was it? You can use the WHOIS internet directory to try and trace the site owners. Let me know the name of the site and I'll check 'em out.
As a general rule when buying anything off the internet use a credit card as you have some insurance against getting your money back, unkike cash & cheques.
Most sites will be secured.. that means there will be a padlock icon on the bottom right hand corner of your internet explorer browser.. if there isn't one, beware against giving out any personal info.
It is also illegal to take money for goods that are not ready for dispatch. So the only time they can charge your card is when the goods are about to be sent to you.
Get your local trading standards on to them, that should get things moving.
http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/