Heatwave shrinking your designer sandals?
From protecting your expensive sandals to debt-busting advice, Wendy Knowler has five new Consumer Hacks for you.
1. A global warming warning - for your flip-flops!
We are subjected to extreme heat in South Africa in summer, and while we
can cope, sort of, certain pricey flip-flops and slides cannot - they can
shrink.
I’ve taken up quite a few cases - mostly Crocs but most recently a pair of
Versace slides - which shrank after heat exposure.
When a Jo'burg woman paid R1850 for her pink Versace slides she wasn’t warned
about exposing them to extreme sunlight for extended periods. But when they
shrank two sizes she was refused a refund - that is until I got
involved.
So keep that designer poolside footwear cool - literally!
2. Do you know what percentage of your take-home home goes towards your
debts?
Sad fact: while our incomes have mostly stagnated in the past seven years, the
cost of living has gone through the roof.
According to DebtBusters’, debt review applicants at the end of last year were
spending 62% of their take-home pay, on average, to service their debts. And
those taking home more than R35 000pm were spending a staggering 71% of it
on repaying debts.
So how much of our income should we be paying towards our debts every month to
avoid financial drama? Absolutely no more than 40%, preferably under 30% says
Debtbusters executive head Benay Sager.
3. Hot listener tip
When you buy an iron, particularly a relatively inexpensive one, make sure to
keep your receipt and the box the iron came in, in a safe place.
For the past two years, a listener’s iron has stopped working each January,
and in the latest case, she was easily able to get a replacement because she'd
kept the box and the receipt.
But remember: if you have a product replaced under warranty, technically the
replacement product inherits the remainder of the warranty period of the
original item.
And if an appliance breaks within six months of purchase or delivery, you have
the benefit of the Consumer Protection Act’s six-month warranty, giving you the
right to insist on a refund rather than a replacement or repair. And you don’t need to
have the box.
4. Do this and your insurance claim on your car will be rejected
Car insurers base your premium on the statistical risk of the person who mostly
drives it. So if a parent names themselves as the regular driver, but their son
or daughter is actually the regular driver of the car, if the car crashes
or is stolen, and the insurer finds out who was actually the regular driver,
the claim will be rejected.
That’s because they based their risk appetite and the premium on the wrong
person.
5. About paying contractors upfront deposits…
Leslie asked: “Please can you guide me on paying a deposit to contractors to
purchase material for the job. I'm a bit concerned that once the deposit is
paid the contractor will disappear or give me endless challenges.
Tell the contractor that you will pay the supplier of materials directly. If
they refuse, your suspicions were confirmed.
If they give you a store name and bank account number call the store and check
their bank account details before you make payment.
Listen to more Consumer Hacks below:
Contact Wendy Knowler:
Get in touch with Wendy via her website or her Facebook page. Please note that Wendy is not able to personally respond to every email she receives. If she is able to take up your case, she will contact you directly. Here are other avenues for you to consider.