You've heard of phishing, pharming, smishing and wilfing. But now a new term is attempting to enter the internet lexicon and it's sillier than the lot.
The word is 'philfing', and it is used to describe a practice employed by online merchants to hide extra charges on goods until the very last second of a purchase.
Standing for 'purposely hiding what I'm looking for', presumably with a silent 'w', these tactics are increasingly frustrating online shoppers, according to a survey of 2,400 UK adults.
Brian Trevaskiss of MoreComputers.com, the company that commissioned the survey, said: "Shopping online is without doubt quick and convenient. However this growing trend of 'Philfing' is so annoying for consumers that they abandon their baskets at 'Philfers' sites and shop elsewhere."
MoreComputers has also set up a website,
www.philfing.info, where anyone who has encountered this practice can air their views. Complaints include websites that say delivery is free but include a 'packing and handling' charge, and prices that don't indicate whether or not they are inclusive of VAT.
http://www.philfing.info/
Topic: 'Philfy' vendors hide charges (Read 647 times)