The invention relates to a method and arrangement for making electronic
purchases. In the method according to the invention, a creditor (11)
grants to a customer (10) a certificate provided with an electronic
signature, and the customer stores said certificate in an electronic
device (13). In connection with a purchase transaction, the customer
produces the certificate to an automatic service or goods vending machine
(14), which checks the certificate information. If the information is
accepted, the desired purchase can be made, and the purchase information
is saved in the memory of the vending machine (14). The separate purchase
information stored in the vending machine memory is transferred in one
batch to the data system (12) of the creditor organization (11), when a
predetermined criterion is fulfilled.