Know Your Consumer Rights
You want to shop on the net? Know your rights …. This is the Law! You have the right to:
1. seven day cooling off period:
Yep, unless you are buying goods from the restricted list (see below) anything you buy you can return within 7 days – no questions
asked.
2. all the details
The seller must supply all the details on their website, including all the company details, all the terms and conditions of the sale, and how they will be sent to you. If they do not supply these details then you can cancel the sale up to two weeks from the date of purchase!
3. no hidden costs
The seller must let you know all the costs up front, including freight, packaging and so forth. Any extra costs and you can cancel within two weeks.
4. full description
The seller must give you a full description of the goods. If not then after the goods have arrived you can send them back within two weeks
for a full refund.
5. review the sale
The seller must let you review the whole transaction before it is processed, so no risk of pressing the wrong button, and making the
purchase by mistake. If you have, and there was no chance to change the transaction, well you can cancel within the two-week period.
6. security, it's the seller's responsibility
If your credit card or banking details are hacked during the transaction, it is the seller's responsibility and they are liable. So no worries on security, it's up to the seller.
7. 30 days to deliver
The seller must deliver within 30 days or you can cancel the transaction, but you must e-mail or write to the seller and warn them that you are canceling.
8. 30 days to refund.
The seller must refund you within 30 days if you cancel for any of the reasons listed above.
These goods do not get the 7-day cooling off period:
- Financial services and banking, or where the supply is dependent on fluctuations in the financial markets, like shares
- Auctions
- Food and beverages intended for everyday consumption, or goods that would deteriorate or expire rapidly.
- Audio, video and software where the package has been unsealed
- Personalised goods or goods made to the customers specifications
- Newspapers, books, periodicals and magazines
- Gaming and lotteries
- Or where the services begin before the seven-day period has expired.
Very Important: all these rights also apply to services on the Net, so if you are booking a B&B or a garden service to mow your lawn
these rights apply.
All these rights apply only to South African Websites. If you buy from Uzbekistan, Uzbekistani law applies ... so be safe and buy
South African.
Get out there and enjoy surfing and shopping.
14 Jun 2007
This article is intended to provide general guidance and does not constitute professional advice relating to specific instances. Should you wish to place any reliance on the information presented in this article we strongly advise that you consult your legal advisor or the Electronic Law Consultancy - info@e-lawconsultancy.co.za
