I WANT A WORKING PHONE!

I bought a phone for P345 from a store at Rail Park Mall on the 28th.

I realised the keypad wasn’t working. After the holidays, I took it back and they tried to fix it. I even left it for a day or 2 with them but still it wasn’t working. On Thursday last week, they only told me they would have to take it back to the manufacturer or where they had bought it. I tried to explain that I couldn’t stay without a phone as I needed the phone to provide services for my business. The man who was assisting me then told me they would take it for 7 working days to fix it, and they couldn’t give me another phone as their warranty card says no refund and no exchange.

Here we go again. Another store that makes things up. I’ve heard from so many consumers who are told by stores, most often cellphone stores, that “there is no refund” and “there is no exchange”.

But that’s not a decision they’re entitled to make. The Consumer Protection Act is clear that refunds and exchanges are most certainly options that any supplier MUST consider. They can’t just deny their obligations under the law. In fact, there’s a word for people that do that. Any guesses?

I suggest that we both approach this store and explain to them that they can’t make up rules that satisfy their needs and don’t satisfy the needs of their customers and the law. Do they really want the Competition and Consumer Authority on their case? Do they really want readers of The Voice to know how little they value their customers?

Finally, do they really want to be reminded that the maximum penalties for breaking the Consumer Protection Act are “a fine not exceeding P50 000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or to both”.

Well, do they?