Public service announcement coming to you from The Consumer Goods and Services Ombudsman Office (CGSO).

The CGSO has decided to name and shame companies that have refused to comply with their standards in relation to payments and services rendered.

The intention, according to ombudsman Magauta Mphahlele, was to warn consumers to be careful when dealing with these suppliers and to prevent further losses, reports BusinessTech.

“Due to the amount of monies paid by consumers and the refusal to refund consumers or deliver the goods paid for, we have taken the decision to name the suppliers who fail to make good when this happens.”

Here they are. Take note, and direct your business elsewhere:

AF-FSL Glass Distributors

Customers ordered aluminium doors and windows but they were never delivered. The supplier refused to cooperate with the CGSO. They are convening Section 40 of the CPA by accepting payment for goods that were never delivered.

Benna Bok

Customers ordered and paid for leather shoes and bags that were never delivered. Despite making it onto an episode of Carte Blanche, where they were exposed, Benna Bok is still taking new orders without resolving the outstanding issues.

Their site can be found here.

4 Cities Removers

Customers paid to have furniture delivered from one address to another, which never arrived. In addition to being in possible contravention of Section 40 of the CPA, having taken people’s furniture and not delivered it, 4 Cities Removers is also in contravention of Section 65 of the CPA. This provides that the supplier in possession of a consumer’s property must handle it with care and account for the property when required.

Milo Design

The customer paid Milo Design for furniture that was never delivered. They are now refusing to refund the customers because of their “non-refund policy”. To make things worse, goods that have been delivered appear to be of inferior quality.

Milo Design would appear to be in contravention of Section 40, 41 as well as Section 19, which provides that the supplier must refund a consumer if they are unable to deliver on the agreed date and time.

Appliance House

Customers paid for and ordered electronic goods online that were never delivered. Appliance House has ceased all communication with the CGSO and is no longer refunding consumers.

In the first quarter of 2019, the CGSO received 11 787 calls from consumers who were making enquiries, following up on their complaints and lodging fresh complaints – 2 191 to be exact.

“While the majority of complaints we receive relate to poor service, defective goods, cancellation of contracts, overcharging and unfair contracts terms, we are beginning to see a steady increase of instances where these complaints relate to online purchases,” said Mphahlele.

You could always just order from trusted sites overseas, and have Postbox Courier handle collection, customs and delivery.

And always remember – don’t drink and shop. And if you do drink and shop, avoid the five companies listed above.

[source:businesstech]