Worth postponing upgrade until Consumer Protection Act in force?

I

IvorT

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Was wondering if its prudent to be patient until 1st April to enter a new 24 month contract with Vodacom. Or is it safe to upgrade in March since the Act will be enforced across the board on all cell contract that are in place? I dunno :erm:
Just wondering sonce the phone I'm aiming to upgrade to seems to be rushing out of stock!! Any info would be appreciated... :)
 
Really hard to say. Most consumers (thumbsuck) dont have problems with their service providers, so in an ideal world, its unlikely to affect you much. Also, I'm not sure if the CPA applies to existing contracts (I would think it would) or only new contracts. I mean, if not, then someone who gets a new contract on the 31st of March essentially would have his contract covered under a different law. Doesnt sound ideal or fair.

I would probably wait if I was you. They will always get new stock, and the longer you wait, generally the better deals you get.
 
IvorT said:
Was wondering if its prudent to be patient until 1st April to enter a new 24 month contract with Vodacom. Or is it safe to upgrade in March since the Act will be enforced across the board on all cell contract that are in place? I dunno :erm:
Just wondering sonce the phone I'm aiming to upgrade to seems to be rushing out of stock!! Any info would be appreciated... :)
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I'm of the opinion phone prices may go up as a result of the law. Phones will no longer be included in contracts but rather as an additional HP agreement. Since there is no guarantee that the service providers can regain the phone subsidy (since you can cancel your contract at any point) they may end up charging the full retail value.
 
phaktza said:
I'm of the opinion phone prices may go up as a result of the law. Phones will no longer be included in contracts but rather as an additional HP agreement. Since there is no guarantee that the service providers can regain the phone subsidy (since you can cancel your contract at any point) they may end up charging the full retail value.
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That can only be a good thing.
 
The CPA could apply to any contract entered into on or after 25 April 2010 AND that will expire after 24 October 2012.

However the consumer only has the right to bring action after the effective implementation date of the rest of the CPA (1 April 2011).

This is if the action is not excluded due to certain other restrictions (there are NOT many exceptions!!).
 
MickeyD said:
The CPA could apply to any contract entered into on or after 25 April 2010 AND that will expire after 24 October 2012.

Thats Good to know Mickey!! Thanks guys!
Methinks me upgrade asap....
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MickeyD said:
The CPA could apply to any contract entered into on or after 25 April 2010 AND that will expire after 24 October 2012.

However the consumer only has the right to bring action after the effective implementation date of the rest of the CPA (1 April 2011).

This is if the action is not excluded due to certain other restrictions (there are NOT many exceptions!!).
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linkage please or section of the act
 
MickeyD said:
Schedule 2 (Section 121(3))
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The law is but a difficult thing to comprehend
2. (1) Chapters 1 and 5 of this Act, section 120 and any other provision authorising the
Minister to make regulations, and this Schedule, take effect on the date that is one year
after the date on which this Act was signed by the President.
(2) Subject to subitem (3), and items 4 and 5, any provision of this Act not
contemplated in subitem (1) takes effect on the date that is 18 months after the date on
which this Act was signed by the President.
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So the date gazetted is deemed the date signed?

and when the provisions of the act were postponed, were those through a gazette as well? if so, where there no terms in that which impact on Schedule 2?

edit - should have thought of refreshing before posting though i think the questions are still valid
 
I would seriously wait until after the act comes into effect. It will stop them using water damage excuses to get out of honouring warranties etc :)

But on a more serious not, Vodacom have already admited they have prepared contracts that comply with the new act.
It would be a pretty poor defence to say you bought your phone on March 31, so we will not cover X, Yor Z but for you guys that did it after April 1, here is your new phone.
The act is very clear on what it regards as an unfair practice.
More importantly it is no longer left to the letter of the law (contract law) to be the sole arbitrator on what is a fair practice or even legally binding.
The CPA is very clear in protecting the consumer against unscrupilous clauses iin contracts.

I disagree with a previous poster that being able to switch between cellphone companies and not been held to randsom for 24 months to a fix contract may mean that companies might stop offering free phones. Of course they will continue to offer the phones. How else will they convince you to leave 8ta, MTN or Cell C?
What might fall away however is the totally ****e way they treat customers simply because they can. :wtf:

anyway you stand a better chance of getting a good deal on a new phone by being a new custmer currently than an existing one.
Phone a vodacom rep recently to find out what new deals i get for renewing my contract and it was exactly the same as advertised for a first time user.
Not really much insentive is there?:p
 
See now on the other side of the argument, I'm wondering about MTN.

I am now forced to open an MTN contract as there is ZERO signal for any other providor in my area :(
 
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