Peter's Tune Up's Afrikaanse Blog

The product you bought at your local store doesn’t function when you get it home, therefore –

You take it back and request a reimbursement.

• The store refuses and demands on fixing the product instead of replacing it.
• You know enough about your rights in terms of the consumer Protection Act to firmly insist that    you get to choose between a refund, replacement or repair – it’s  not the retailer’s choice.
• But still the retailer refuses to refund you, so you complain to the NCC – the National    Consumer Commission.

The problem is that the NCC has extremely come under fire from consumers complaining of inability} to deal speedily and efficiently with even routine complaints.

So what are your other possibilities?

If  lawsuit is premature (take advice in doubt) look for someone else to complain to - many enterprise associations have their own Ombuds mandated to investigate consumer problems involving their members.  

Good news is that the “Ombud option” has just been expanded to your local retail store and the like - retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers of “buyer goods” now fall under an Ombud scheme just launched by the Consumer Goods Council South Africa.   The new system is voluntary and enforceable only against trade subscribers, but with CGCSA having over 11,000 members, it looks like a worthwhile first point of reference if you are on the receiving end of defective, unsafe or unacceptable goods.

Find out how to lodge a complaint, and download a copy of the Code of Conduct for suppliers, or visit www.cgso.org.za.

Here is some more help nuwe-help-vir-verbruikers-met-klagtes

You can read more for similar problems at JG Law