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ECR Consumerwatch

Wendy Knowler is arguably South Africa’s most experienced consumer journalist. She’s helped more consumers over her 20 year career in consumer journalism than she could count. But while known as a champion of consumer rights, Wendy is also known and respected by corporates for her fair, accurate and balanced reporting. Want to be a more sussed consumer or corporate? Listen to Wendy's episodes here.
Weekly English South Africa Leisure · Business
239 Episodes
100 – 120

No more free ride for your golf clubs on SAA

Up to now, South African Airways has allowed its passengers to check in a bag or suitcase plus certain sports gear, including bikes, golf clubs, horse saddles, and sailing equipment, at no extra charge.
7 Nov 2019 6 min

Wendy Knowler on Vodacom data scam WhatsApp alert

A voice note supposedly released by a policeman, who warns about a new scam, has resurfaced. The man claims that criminals are targeting people outside shops with a scam data competition, only to steal their money. Wendy Knowler looked into it and confirms the WhatsApp clip is a scam. Listen…
25 Oct 2019 2 min

Watch out: no service, no warranty

On Consumerwatch this week, Wendy’s Watch Out for consumers focuses on the harsh consequences on missing a service of your car, and on ShopTalk, she cautions companies on compounding a mistake with bad handling of the fallout.
10 Oct 2019 8 min

Wendy looks at Vodacom cell contracts + shares two personal bugbears

In today's Consumerwatch, Wendy Knowler looks at two cases of somewhat misleading cellphone contracts with Vodacom that locked in two consumers for longer than they'd bargained on. Vodacom has since said it was an isolated error. Wendy investigates. Meanwhile, in Shop Talk today Wendy shares details of some of her…
3 Oct 2019 6 min

You have no legal right to return clothes that don’t fit you

Are you one of those people who grabs an item of clothing off the rail and buys it without trying it on? Who’s got the time or inclination to face those changing rooms, right? Well, best you do and here’s why? So many people believe they have the right to…
19 Sep 2019 6 min

Finger Trouble at Woolies + Social Media advice for businesses

In today's Consumerwatch, Wendy Knowler reports on a spot of finger trouble at Woolworths, while in part 2, she asks the important question of business: Why do brands have social media accounts when they are not active or they ignore customers’ queries?
12 Sep 2019 4 min

Are you on shaky ground with your house insurance?

Many people think they’re covered if their home were to be damaged in a storm, only to find out at claim time that they aren’t. On Consumerwatch this week, Wendy Knowler shares the final installment of the fallen-down wall saga, plus some very important advice for anyone with house insurance.
5 Sep 2019 7 min

Spare a thought when buying a car

When you are negotiating the purchase of a used car, Wendy Knowler says always ask to see three things: the service book, the spare wheel, and the spare key.
29 Aug 2019 5 min

Flood damage? You could well be on your own

First their boundary wall collapsed in a devastating storm, and then this Umlazi couple’s hopes of getting it rebuilt were dashed when their insurer rejected their claim. It wasn’t that fierce storm which toppled the wall, the insurer said - it was poor construction. The couple asked Wendy Knowler to…
15 Aug 2019 11 min

So you've said no to the straw. Now what?

Demonising all plastic is misguided. Plastic remains an excellent form of packaging - cheap, strong, light - it's single-use plastic that’s not okay. The issue is that plastic - and particularly Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) - denoted by the recycling number 1 - has no business being on a landfill site,…
25 Jul 2019 6 min

A Drone Moan

What gives an online retailer the right to cancel a confirmed purchase?
11 Jul 2019 10 min

High Court outlaws banks’ controversial money grabbing

For years, South Africa’s banks have taken it upon themselves - without warning - to grab money from their clients’ current accounts to settle their credit card debt, often leaving them with too little money to honour their debit orders or buy food for the month.
4 Jul 2019 13 min

Scam Tenders - a cautionary tale

This week’s Consumerwatch is a cautionary tale for small businesses. I’m very grateful to a Durban businesswoman for sharing her story with us in a bid to warn others. She'd found no warnings online about any of the companies involved, but she did miss some tell-tale signs in her dealings…
27 Jun 2019 11 min

Flooded then flogged as flawless

Wendy Knowler thought she’d heard it all in her 20 years of investigating dodgy car deals - but then came the flooded Fiat.
13 Jun 2019 10 min
100 – 120