New Consumer Act 31 March - Cancellations

[saffakanera]

• Ever been billed for that gym or cellphone contract you thought had expired?
• Thanks to the new act, automatic contract renewals will be no more. Companies will have to contact you – in writing – between 40 and 80 business days before your contract expires. They have to give you the option to continue your contract, change its terms or cancel it.
• Note that the contract will continue on a month-to-month basis until you make your choice.
• You will also be able to cancel contracts at any time. No more waiting for the full 24 months to end. If you’re unhappy, give the company 20 days’ notice – in writing – and you’re home free.
• And while you won’t have to pay the full value of the contract, keep in mind that you still have to pay anything you owe the company up to the date of cancellation.
• The company might also charge you a cancellation fee, possibly no more than 10 percent of the amounts still owed.

 

[seanyp00h]

Will this apply only to contracts taken out after the act comes into play?

 

[TJ99]

So in other words, expect everyone to hike their prices, to compensate for the "terrible inconvenience" and "burden" of actually having to treat their customers in anything remotely resembling a fair way.

 

[xrapidx]

Will this apply only to contracts taken out after the act comes into play?

Yip

 

[saffakanera]

So in other words, expect everyone to hike their prices, to compensate for the "terrible inconvenience" and "burden" of actually having to treat their customers in anything remotely resembling a fair way.

Id rather pay more and know I can stop any service at any time then be forced to comply to some make believe constitution some corporate vomited up.

 

[MVGL]

Id rather pay more and know I can stop any service at any time then be forced to comply to some make believe constitution some corporate vomited up.

Are we not already paying enough for most services?

 

[TJ99]

Id rather pay more and know I can stop any service at any time then be forced to comply to some make believe constitution some corporate vomited up.

You'll still get screwed, one way or the other. The house always wins. For example, if Telkom are forced to drop the mandatory telephone line rental, hey presto, the ADSL line rentals will all suddenly go up with exactly R133.30 to "keep up with inflation".

 

[saffakanera]

You'll still get screwed, one way or the other. The house always wins. For example, if Telkom are forced to drop the mandatory telephone line rental, hey presto, the ADSL line rentals will all suddenly go up with exactly R133.30 to "keep up with inflation".

I don't think its as simple as that, but I can see them trying something like this (Possibly.)

 

[stroebs]

Maybe Telkom will end up charging something like R50 "service fee" or "admin fee" for homes without a phone line...