Consumer Commission needs more cash

[Dave A]

And the DTI probably needs a swift kick up the @$$.

The National Consumer Commission has little more than R3 million until the end of the current financial year and unless it gets a cash injection from the Department of Trade & Industry soon its services will be severely compromised.
full story here

It's an interesting story, and it's hard to imagine why the DTI is dragging their feet on this one - particularly as it seems the Consumer Commission could turn into a marvelous cash cow down the line.

For the time being Mohlala was hanging the commission's hat on winning some key cases such as the one against cellular communications group MTN, which could mean the company would be fined up to 10% of its annual revenue.

That's some serious change. What an investment! Can I sell my MTN's and buy shares in this consumer commission instead?
Wait until we get hold of Vodacom! It's going to be awesome.

Might have to wait a bit to get paid out, I guess. But even if it takes 5 years, what a return!!!

In the meantime, ordinary people who are supposed to be getting assistance from this merry Robin Hood lot may be having some problems:

"Such funds are much needed, in a context where the vacancy rate at the NCC is 76% and where 20,000 call centre calls per month are not picked up by the five call centre agents employed at the commission," Harris said.

I'm sorry - did he just say there are only 5 call centre agents for the whole country?

Hopefully Mohlala has alternative plans to keep things going until the cash cows come home.
I doubt MTN et al are going to just cough up without a fight.

[Firzana]

Hi,

I have a question, should all companies be consumer protection compliant? I have Seesa wanting to offer me their services.

[Dave A]

SEESA have certainly jumped on the bandwagon.

Ultimately, if you've got customers that qualify as consumers in terms of the Consumer Protection Act, you really should try to make sure you're CPA compliant.

[wayne_s]

WOW, only 5 call centre agents, 20 000 calls/month

Called them the other day and waited 30 minutes to have the phone answered. OUCH!