If you have an emolument attachment order (garnishee order), contact the Credit Ombud to find out whether or not it is legal. Recently, a landmark ruling raised questions about the legality of many emolument attachment orders (EAOs), commonly known...
If you haven’t specifically taken out cover for power surges you will receive a nasty shock when your electronic goods are fried during load shedding, as one of my readers discovered. “I have faced a huge financial setback with my gate motor, alarm...
It was only when Patricia received a call from Wonga’s head of communications that she realised she had been the unwitting victim of a phising scam that has so far conned over 200 people into parting with their money. Two weeks ago Patricia...
Cellphones have become an indispensable part of our lives. Unfortunately, those cellphone bills can become all too costly, all too quickly. Here is a basic summary of some good options to help keep those costs down. Looking at cellphone contracts...
As people’s budgets come under increasing pressure, the number of people who can afford to buy new cars is dwindling fast. With banks financing two used cars for every new car purchase, the second-hand car market is booming. If you want to sell...
Too much month at the end of your money? It might be time to start really paying attention to your loyalty programmes so that you can get the best value for your money. Recently FNB announced that eBucks members had earned R5 billion in eBucks...
You have a complaint against a financial services company and you are frustrated beyond belief. So, you find their Facebook page and post your tale of woe along with all the relevant information. Stop. Have you thought about the full implications...
Consumers in Gauteng and the North West who are not able to pay their debts and who are being taken to court by credit providers can now request the magistrate to refer the matter to court mediation. Magistrates will also encourage parties to go...
The fuel price increase on 1 April was unfortunately no April Fool’s joke. Motorists are now paying an extra R1.62 per litre of petrol, which means that if you fill up your 50-litre tank twice a month, you're now spending an additional R160 per...
Despite an investigation into the rates charged by credit providers for insurance, borrowers are still paying high rates for their credit insurance. If you were stuck for cash and needed to borrow R5 000 which you would pay back over just four...
Remember those days when you looked forward to the Christmas holidays? Long lazy summer days eating lychees and mangos; waking up on Christmas morning to gifts under the Christmas tree; a family feasts where you ate until you were ready to burst. When did that all...
By Nicholas Nkosi, Head of Vehicle and Asset Finance – Personal Markets, at Standard Bank It is natural to think about the joys of starting the New Year in your dream car when your bank account is filled with an end-of-year bonus. However, is it advisable to buy a...
The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), which is the regulator for medical schemes in South Africa, has initiated new processes to put more power in your hands so that you are able to take on large medical schemes. Consumers have always been able to take complaints...
In response to complaints about unauthorised cash withdrawals at PicknPay till points, PicknPay has announced upgrades to their till points. A shopper had complained that on two separate occasions, PicknPay tellers had made unauthorised cash withdrawals when he was...
According to World Wide Worx, which monitors the local e-commerce landscape on an annual basis, in conjunction with MasterCard, online shopping has stayed in line with forecasts over the past few years – slightly surpassing last year’s expectations. A report by the...
When Jurie Pohl discovered that fraudulent debit orders amounting to R12 000 had been deducted from his bank account over five years, he became the latest victim of a financial crime where syndicates are deliberately using the debit order system to commit fraud....
Air travel is not cheap and even “low-budget” airlines charge you more than R1 000 for a local, return flight. However, low-cost air tickets come with a non-refundable clause, so you get what you pay for. Read the fine print before you buy because a refund might not...
Insurers are becoming more enthusiastic about suing uninsured drivers to recover costs. If you are uninsured and crash into another vehicle causing damage amounting to thousands of rands, you are liable for those repairs. Even if the other driver was insured, his...
We’ve all had a bad customer experience, but how many of us actually take it further? Under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), you may be entitled to compensation. Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO), Adv. Neville Melville points out five common areas of...
Borrowers are invoking their rights against unscrupulous lenders and debt counsellors. A greater awareness by consumers around their rights when it comes to borrowing money has led to an increase in complaints related to non-bank credit transactions, with the majority...