Your rights when shopping online
Winter has arrived in South Africa and it is time to brace its
chill by stocking up on your winter essentials. Increasingly
consumers are preferring to shop online, however, before you click
'checkout' and start swiping your credit cards, are you
aware of your rights as a consumer when shopping online?
The Consumer Protection Act (CPA), Electronic Communications Act
(ECTA) and Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI) all
contain provisions to protect your online experience so that you
have similar protection as if you had physically walked into the
store to make a purchase.
The Online Purchase
Online retailers must provide online shoppers with essential
information on its website, including its full names, physical
address, adequate description of the goods or services being sold,
the price payable and the terms of the agreement of sale. Should
the online retailer not do so, you have the right in terms of
section 43 of