Financial Fitness By Jessie Taylor
Your rights and responsibilities as consumers Know your rights and responsibilities
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onsumers are protected by the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA), and this piece of legislation governs, among other things, how shoppers can access refunds or return items. The CPA applies to any business that is marketing, distributing, manufacturing, or selling goods and services in South Africa, irrespective of size or if it operates in the formal or informal sector. It regulates the transaction between consumers and businesses, ensuring that consumers’ rights are protected.
The Consumer Protection Act recognises eight fundamental consumer rights, in line with the Constitution, which every consumer of goods and services is entitled to, regardless of the monetary value of a transaction or the significance of the commodity. These rights consumers are entitled to are: • The right to equality: • The right to privacy • The right to choose • The right to disclosure of information • The right to fair and responsible marketing
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• The right to a fair and honest dealing • The right to fair, just and reasonable terms and c onditions; and • The right to safe and good quality goods As part of the protection the CPA offers, consumers are protected against defective items. However, the CPA does not allow consumers to simply change their minds about a purchase and expect a refund. The CPA ensures that consumers have the right to receive goods that are reasonably suitable for the purposes for which they are
