Stop getting ripped off: Consumer Hacks every South African needs to know
Wendy Knowler breaks down the consumer hacks your wallet has been waiting for. Small things. Big difference.
Keep your receipts – it’s less hassle than trying to get justice without them
Making a habit of keeping your receipts will no doubt spare you a lot of hassle down the line – and ensure that you can claim on any warranties if you need to.
And no, your bank statement is not a viable substitute because it doesn’t show what you bought.
A pensioner who wanted my help with regards to dog food recall issue told me she never keeps slips or invoices.
So, she didn’t have the receipt for the dog food in question, nor the vet’s invoice.
Her story had a happy ending, though, but trust me, it pays to keep your receipts. In whatever way works for you.
So, you have cellphone insurance. On which phone?
I get a steady stream of emails from people who’ve made unpleasant discoveries about their cellphone insurance policies.
There are two scenarios:
- They had another SIM – not the contract one – in the insured phone when it was stolen or lost, resulting in a claim rejection.
- They’ve discovered that they are not only paying a premium on a policy for their current phone, but that the policy on an old phone was never cancelled, so they’ve been paying for nothing, sometimes for years.
Please check on those things!
New laws to put a stop to spam
South Africa’s marketing landscape is shifting with recent Consumer Protection Act (CPA) amendments mandating a national "Do Not Contact" registry managed by the National Consumer Commission.
From July 2026, we can put in place a single pre-emptive block, legally barring all direct marketers from contacting us. Until then, our existing POPIA and CPA rights remain strong.
Meanwhile, if a telemarketer calls you, and you aren’t thrilled about that, tell them: "I am recording this call. Under POPIA Section 11, I withdraw my consent for marketing. Please provide your Information Officer's details so I can file a formal Objection to Processing (Form 2)."
That usually results in them hanging up immediately.
Bottle deposit refunds – don’t take no for an answer
Under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), retailers must refund bottle deposits in cash if that’s how you paid.
So don't let stores force you into buying replacements or accepting vouchers; they are legally obligated to return the full legislated value (typically R2 or R3).
If a shop claims they lack storage space or tries to force you to buy replacement product in order to claim your deposit refund, stand your ground: remind them of their CPA obligations.
You have the right to return empties for cash, regardless of future purchases.
If they still won’t budge, report them to SAB or Coca Cola’s regional head plant in Phoenix. As well as the Consumer Goods & Services Ombud.
Back to the drawing board for PepsiCo after the new ProNutro was shunned by fans of the traditional version
The rollout of the “New Generation” ProNutro last month was met with severe backlash over taste and texture, forcing PepsiCo to pause production and tweak the formula.
Even the dogs were turning up their noses at it, reportedly.
PepsiCo said the original ProNutro variants, which generations of South Africans had enjoyed since 1962, was made on inefficient, obsolete roller-drying machinery that made it unsustainable to produce. But now they’re working on issues that they can change.
Unfortunately, that’s not a quick process - ProNutro probably won’t be back on the shelves for at least six months.
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