Consumers urged to spend wisely during festive season
For most South Africans, the month of December is dedicated to a time to take advantage of end-year deals ahead of the much anticipated period.
It has been observed that during the festive hype, most consumers tend to buy in the name of huge discounts and sales as per the retailer’s adverts.
The Gauteng Office of Consumer Affairs (GOCA) has urged residents to exercise caution when spending their hard-earned cash.
“Be careful and not be misled by marketing strategies as the hype creates unnecessary pressure on every household. Most consumers in South Africa are in huge debts and the festive season hype will lead to more people being over-indebted as they tend to shop for things that they do not need in the name of sales and discounts,” explains Milly Viljoen, Director: Consumer Education, Awareness and Stakeholder Relations at GOCA.
The rising prices of fuel, food, transport and electricity is affecting many households and the situation is expected to worsen as we approach the end of the year.
The pandemic has also affected finances of many households and businesses, with many people having lost their jobs and sources of income, or having been affected by salary cuts.
Protect your consumer rights
If you are not satisfied with products and services received, complain to the manager or person in control of the business where you purchased the goods and services. You can also contact the supplier or manufacturer of the goods and services.
If the matter is not resolved, then consumers can lodge a complaint to the Gauteng Office of Consumer Affairs (GOCA) on (011) 355 8006 or email consumer@gauteng.gov.za. Consumers can also visit our Head Office or one of our Regional Offices in Gauteng.
For more information, advice and consumer-related complaints, contact the Gauteng Office of Consumer Affairs on (011) 355 8006 or email: consumer@gauteng.gov.za.
Shopping and spending tips
- Plan your purchases in advance by drawing a ‘realistic’ budget
Avoid spending your hard-earned cash on things you don’t need. Prioritise your expenses; make a list of needs and wants.
Focus on the essentials, needs, school uniform, schoolbooks, stationery and pay school fees for 2022 in advance. Before you do any grocery shopping, make a list and stick to it. Use your bonus/13th cheque to pay off your debts, credit cards or home loan.
This will not only reduce the interest payable but also the term of the debt.
- Always read and understand the Terms and Conditions (the agreement of sale/service agreement) of items sold in store and online before signing
Demand contracts/agreements that are simple, easily understood and in plain language. It is important to remember that, when you make a purchase or order a service online, you are entering into a legal agreement. Know and understand your rights and responsibilities before you make any purchase.
Check specifically the Repair, Replace and Refund (RRR) policy for defective and unsafe goods purchased online, as of that purchased in store – especially on sale items.
A consumer has the right to return any goods without penalty and at the supplier’s risk and expense within six months of delivery if the goods fail to satisfy the quality provisions stipulated in the Consumer Protection Act.
- Check your bank statements regularly
Checking your statement regularly to help keep track of expenses and spending, as well as monitor for any fraudulent charges or mistakes.
- Avoid online shopping scams
Only transact on secure websites: look for the lock image on the toolbar, valid certificates such as VeriSign and secure payment systems such as PayU, Ozow etc.
Don’t do your shopping in coffee shops and malls with public Wi-Fi. There’s a bigger chance that fraudsters may intercept your connection and get hold of your usernames and passwords.
Watch out for strange emails and links. Always be skeptical about offers that seem too good to be true. Certain online ads on social media sites might take you to a fake website that can infect your system with malware. Rule of thumb: rather type in the web address yourself.
Also, never send emails that contain personal information such as your card number and expiry date or supply these details over the phone.
- Avoid credit buying
Pay in full and in cash, do not bring more cash with you than you need. If you don’t have the extra money, you can’t spend it. Credit costs money (interest) and it encourages over-spending, can also lead to a ‘poor’ credit record.
Build up your savings
Create an emergency fund for unforeseen circumstances. This fund will strengthen your financial security in the event of a job loss or any circumstance you might encounter.