CPA- what does it mean?

Did you know?

The  Consumer Protection Act of 68 of 2008, will come into play on the 1^st of April 2011.

What does this mean for you ?

Do any of these situations sound familiar? 

1. You go to the hospital or doctor for a procedure and they say  “sorry but your medical aid does not cover this procedure.”

2. You apply for insurance cover and the next thing you know you are being charged for things that were not explained or that you were not informed about.

3. You go into a shop based on an advertisement you have seen, only to be told that they no longer have stock.

4. Your toaster dies an unexpected, flaming death on day 101 of your 100-day-guarantee.

5. A telemarketer calls you up halfway through lunch and you find yourself signing up for an insurance policy between mouthfuls.

The above situations are now a thing of the past, as of the 1^st of April 2011 the following WILL be your fundamental rights as a consumer. 

9 Consumer Rights

1. Right of equality in consumer market 

· You have the right to be protected against discriminatory marketing

2. Consumer’s right to privacy 

· You have the right to restrict unwanted direct marketing.

3. Consumer’s right to choose 

· You have the right to select your suppliers 

· You have the right to cancel advance reservations, bookings or orders 

· You have the right to choose or examine goods 

· You have the right to delivery of goods or supply of service 

· You have the right to return goods 

· You have the right to say no to spur-of-the-moment goods or services

4. Right to disclosure and information 

· You have the right to information in plain and understandable language 

· You have the right to disclosure of price of goods or services

5. Right to fair and responsible marketing 

· You have the right to general standards for marketing of goods or services

· You are protected against bait marketing

· You are protected against negative option marketing

· You are protected against direct marketing to consumers

· You are protected against catalogue marketing

· You are protected against trade coupons and similar promotions

· You are protected against customer loyalty programmes

· You are protected against promotional competitions

· You are protected against alternative work schemes

· You are protected against referral selling

· You are protected against agreements IF you are lacking in legal capacity

6. Right to fair and honest dealing 

· You are protected against unconscionable 

· You are protected against false, misleading or deceptive representations 

· You are protected against fraudulent schemes and offers 

· You are protected against pyramid and related schemes 

· You have the right to assume supplier is entitled to sell goods  

- Every consumer has the right to assume that the supplier of  the goods has the legal right, or the authority of the legal owner, to supply, sell or lease those goods

· You are protected regarding auctions 

· You are protected regarding the changes, deferrals, and waivers and substitution of goods  

· You are protected against over-selling and over-booking

7. Right to fair, just and reasonable terms and conditions 

· You are protected against unfair, unreasonable or unjust contract terms 

· You are protected against notice required for certain terms and conditions 

· You have the right to Written consumer agreements 

· You are protected  against  prohibited transactions, agreements, terms or conditions 

· You have the right to the powers of court to ensure fair and just conduct, terms and conditions

8. Right to fair value, good quality and safety 

· You have the right to demand quality service

· You have the right to safe, good quality goods.

- When deciding whether any particular goods are reasonably suitable for the purpose intended, including: any instructions for, or warnings about the use of the goods.

· You are protected against implied warranty of quality

· You have the right to a warranty on repaired goods

· You have the right to be warned  concerning fact and nature of risks

· You have the right to the recovery and safe disposal of designated products or components

· You have the right to safety monitoring and recall

· You have the right to liability for damage caused by goods

9. Supplier’s accountability to consumers 

· You are protected against lay-buy’s (e.g. until the price is paid off and the goods are delivered to the consumer, the amounts paid by the consumer remain the property of the consumer and if anything happens to the goods, the supplier must bear the loss.) 

· You are protected against prepaid certificates, credits and vouchers 

· You are protected against prepaid services and access to service facilities 

· You are protected against the supplier to hold and account for consumer’s property 

· You are protected against deposits in respect of containers, pallets or similar objects 

· You have the right to return of parts and materials

Should you have any questions around the Consumer Protection Act, please email all questions / queries to the Compliance Mailbox This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .