A CouriersPlease survey has found that online shopping has created more credit card debt for nearly one-third of credit card holders, with 30 per cent conceding that they accumulate more debt when shopping online, compared to in-store.

According to CouriersPlease, the debt might be explained by the fewer payment options that are available when shopping online.

The survey had revealed that an average debt of an Australian in more than four in 10 shoppers (42 per cent) use their credit card online, while a similar number use a debit card (40 per cent).

The remaining 18 per cent use payment plans such as lay-by or “buy now, pay later” services such as Afterpay and Zip Pay, it was also found.

A majority of Australians are also unable to, or unwilling to, pay off their credit card balance each month, the survey revealed.

Nearly half (43 per cent) pay off just up to 75 per cent of their balance each month, while 32 per cent are paying off less than 50 per cent of their credit card each month.

Even more worryingly, nearly one in five (17 per cent) are paying off less than 20 per cent of their balance each month.

Commenting on the findings, CouriersPlease spokesperson Jessica Ip said the research indicated “that online shopping transactions in Australia are more likely to have a more positive growth rate than with in-store purchase levels, with more people relying on credit and buy-now-pay-later services – essentially with money they don’t have – when making online purchases”.

nestegg has previously considered whether Australians’ Afterpay habits are making them poor.