As the festive season kicks into high gear, shoppers should be wary of suppliers that vanish after taking their money. The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has identified about 40 such suppliers, leaving a trail of frustrated and defrauded consumers in their wake.
These suppliers, ranging from baby-clothing sellers to car dealerships and financial service providers, have been flagged for failing to deliver on orders and disappearing without a forwarding address. The modus operandi, according to the NCC, is simple: accept payments, fail to deliver, and then vanish.
“The same with online suppliers, these suppliers would also take orders, accept payments, and never deliver the products. The suppliers would later abandon the websites or delete the sites completely,” the NCC states.
The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) mandates that suppliers provide accurate contact details, ensuring consumers and authorities can locate them when issues arise.
The CPA also requires transparency in marketing. As the NCC reminds, “when a retailer or service provider markets the goods, they must do so in a manner that is not misleading or deceiving”, including honest representations of product conditions and pricing.
Shoppers are advised to be vigilant, particularly online. “Consumers are urged to be very vigilant when transacting online, as some of the online stores are masquerading as legitimate businesses while they are effectively out to scam consumers,” warns the commission.
To protect themselves, consumers should verify original prices before making purchases and exercise caution with unfamiliar suppliers.
The list of these suppliers is available on the NCC’s website, and any of the suppliers on the list who have become traceable should contact the NCC to be immediately removed from the list.
NCC launches free hotline to combat fake food
Amid growing concerns over contaminated food linked to the deaths of several schoolchildren in communities across South Africa, the NCC’s contact centre hotline will be zero-rated for three months starting 1 December.
This initiative, made possible through the support of the Association of Comms & Technology (ACT) members, aims to improve access for all consumers.
The move follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement on 15 November, where he highlighted the urgent need to educate consumers about food safety and labelling. He also encouraged the public to report any suspicions of fake or expired foodstuffs to the NCC.
As the NCC prepares to lead investigations into the sale of counterfeit and expired food nationwide, ensuring the hotline’s accessibility is crucial. This service will make it easier for consumers to report incidents of food contamination promptly, enabling a faster response from authorities.
For the next three months, the public will be able to contact the NCC free of charge to register complaints and tip-offs related to fake or expired food.
NCC acting commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu acknowledged concerns from stakeholders that the previous paid hotline limited access for those with fewer financial resources.
“This intervention will therefore ensure that consumers can report incidents on the sale of fake or expired food as soon as such is identified,” said Ratshisusu.
Consumers can file complaints through the NCC’s e-Service portal at https://eservice.thencc.org.za/ or call the zero-rated hotline at 012 065 1940.
