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We’ve all heard the phrase, “The customer is always right”, which is used by disgruntled shoppers to embolden themselves when returning goods. However, being right and having the right to take back that vacuum cleaner that sucks in all the wrong ways are two very different things. This is where the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) comes in, and we will break down and eliminate most of the jarring jargon to give you some insights on when you will have a better chance of getting refunded because there is no general right of return. For instance, if you get a

Many South Africans are drowning in debt and doing their best to stay afloat. If this resonates with you and creditors (or debt collectors) are hounding you, or if your monthly expenses exceed your income and you are using credit to pay arrears, you are not alone. Recent statistics from the National Credit Regulator show that more than 10 million people are in arrears on their debt. But, it isn’t all doom and gloom for the country labelled the most indebted nation in the world! The good news is that South Africans seem to be managing debt better,

With the rising cost of living in a troubling economy, South Africans are cash-strapped. It hardly comes as a surprise that consumers try all kinds of strategies and measures to survive, especially after the festive season. One such a trick is withdrawing all money from a bank account before debit orders hit. Unfortunately, few consumers know how this practice can adversely affect them. According to Adv. Jackie Nagtegaal, Managing Director at LAW FOR ALL, bounced debit orders can become a costly affair. “In more cases than none, consumers end

There is no doubt that the ongoing Harvey Weinstein scandal, in which the disgraced movie mogul has been accused of sexually harassing multiple young actresses, has reignited talk of how prevalent sexual harassment is. Especially in the workplace. Of course, it’s not just in Hollywood: the subsequent #MeToo social media campaign, which saw survivors of sexual assault talk about their experiences to help create awareness, reconfirmed that sexual assault and harassment at the hands of men in powerful positions is common in all industries across the globe. The widespread “boy’s club”

Let’s face it, finding a job in South Africa (and overseas) is extremely difficult, and it becomes near impossible to do so if you have a criminal record. Remember, it is well within employers’ rights to ask for the disclosure of any criminal history, and it certainly impacts chances of even being invited for an initial interview. According to screening company Managed Integrity Evaluation (MIE), more and more companies are conducting background checks on potential employees; in fact, it’s grown by 6.77% in just the last five years. More

Crime casts a long and dark shadow over our Rainbow Nation, and South Africans have long been living with the reality that lawbreaking and misconduct are everyday occurrences. In fact, as long as we’ve had law to enforce, we’ve had criminals to break them. It is, sadly, an unavoidable part of societal living. What’s perhaps the most heartbreaking part of criminal acts is that they often occur at the expense of someone else; victims and survivors of crime usually experience long-lasting trauma and psychological issues after being attacked or left without possessions. So one

Post-1994 South Africa saw the democratically elected government implement various programmes and strategies to undo the structural oppression of the apartheid era. One such endeavour is the Reconstruction and Development Programme. The aim was to provide better social services for previously disadvantaged South Africans by allocating tax money for development projects. The broader picture was not only focus on poverty, but to build a stronger macro- economic environment. Even though the government has lots of obstacles to overcome, like widespread corruption, it is working towards the rapid

It’s by no means as easy subject to broach, and talking about and planning for death is intimidating and unsettling. But, it is something you should prioritise for you and your loved ones’ sake. Death is inevitable, and its consequences don’t just affect you, so it’s best to plan for those around you. After all, you want to be in control of who be benefits from your life’s work. Recent research conducted by life insurance company 1Life indicated that 70% of their clients don’t have a Will in place. Furthermore, the survey revealed that a significant amount of people don’t

South Africa sees an increase in the divorce rate every year. In most cases, going through a divorce is stressful, expensive and emotionally draining. Having to accept and move on from a failed marriage is no easy task. Luckily, as adults, we have various support systems in place to help guide us through this difficult period, but our children might not, and we have to pull our parental socks up to protect them as much as possible. Put differences aside. The tension between ex-partners can draw focus away from the less emotionally developed