BY SACHA WALTERS, Staff Reporter
CONSUMERS CAN GET recourse after buying faulty goods.
According to Dorothy Campbell, communications specialist for the Consumer Affairs Commission, a consumer always has options when it comes to returning faulty products.
"If the vendor is reasonable then they'll repair it," she said. If not then they can replace the product or lastly refund the consumer's money.
However, if none of these options are met then the consumer can report the problem to the Consumer Affairs Commission.
PROVIDE RECEIPTS
A consumer has to provide the commission with receipts and a full chronological explanation of the events that took place. Afterwards the commission will get in contact with the vendor to receive their version of the events.
If there is still no resolution then the matter will be sent to their four member tribunal which has the authority to take it to the courts.
They can issue a summons to the vendor who has seven days in which to respond or resolve the incident.
Legal action however is the tribunal's last resort. Before this they hold a meeting between themselves, the consumer and vendor and whatever agreement is reached is binding.
Campbell pointed out that consumers need to be responsible as well. "Hold on to your money until you're sure," she said, its important to ask the vendor everything about the product and examine it in detail before purchasing it.
EXPERT ADVICE
"If it's a high end item like a car or a computer, take an expert with you," she cautioned.
Campbell said that they encourage consumers to report stores that have signs saying that they offer no refunds or exchange on faulty goods. She emphasised that they hope that the vendors will use their discretion and be reasonable, because ultimately if it can be proven that the goods that were sold were faulty, except when the vendor indicates to the consumer that the goods may have faults before they are purchased, then it is the vendor's responsibility to offer some options.
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