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Where can consumers complain

One of the 8 Consumer Rights as recognized by the United Nations is “The Right to Redress” – a consumer’s right to a remedy if a company/service provider does not engage fairly and appropriately in the market place. Today there are many organisations in South Africa that exist to ensure that a consumer’s Right to Redress is promoted and protected. Some exist by statute, others are voluntary Ombuds schemes, and others are industry associations. All provide a free service to consumers who cannot get a satisfactory remedy from the company/provider concerned. They look at both sides of the story and obtain redress for a consumer where they are of the view that the company/provider has not acted correctly.

In celebration of World Consumer Rights Day, we provide you with a list of organisations that you may want to contact.

Remember that you first need to try to sort out your issues with the company concerned.

Advertising

Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa (ASASA)

Tel: (011) 781 2006
Fax: (011) 781 1616
Email: complaint@asasa.org.za
Website: www.asasa.org.za

Banking

The Ombudsman for Banking Services

Tel: 0860 662837
Fax: (011) 8380043
Email:  info@obssa.co.za
Website: www.obssa.co.za

Broadcasting

Broadcasting Complaints Commission

Tel: 011 325 5755
Fax: 011 325 5736
Email: bccsa@nabsa.co.za
Website: www.bccsa.co.za

Competition

Competition Commission

Tel: (012) 394 3200
Email: ccsa@compcom.co.za
Website: www.compcom.co.za

Consumer Organisations

South African National Consumer Union

Tel: 012 428 7122
Fax:086 672 8585
Email: info@sancu.co.za
Website: www.sancu.co.za

Credit Bureaux

Credit Information Ombud

Tel: 0860 662 837
Website: www.creditombud.org.za

Transunion ITC

Tel: 0861 482 482
Website: www.itc.co.za

Experian

Tel: 0861 105 665
Website: www.experian.co.za

Credit including Microlending

National Credit Regulator

Tel: 0860 627 627
Website: www.ncr.org.za

Debt Collectors

Debt Collectors Council

Tel: 012 8049808/3402
Fax: 012 8049744
Email: info@debtcol-council.co.za
Website: www.debtcol-council.co.za

Debt Counsellors

National Credit Regulator

Tel: 0860 627 627
Website: www.ncr.org.za

Electricity, Gas and Petroleum

National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA)

Tel: 012 401 4600
Fax: 012 401 4700
Email: complaints@nersa.org.za
Website: www.nersa.org.za

Financial Services/Investments

Financial Services Board

Toll free: 0800 110443 / 0800 202 087
Email: info@fsb.co.za
Website: www.fsb.co.za

The Office of the FAIS Ombud

Tel: 0860 324 766/012 470 9080
Fax: (012) 348 3447
Email: info@faisombud.co.za
Website: www.faisombud.co.za

Furniture

Furniture Traders’ Association

Tel: (011) 789 6770/1
Fax: 086 656 8872
Email: consumersupport@ftasa.co.za

Government officials/departments

The Public Protector

Tel: 012 362 7000
fax: 012 362 3473
Website: www.publicprotector.org

Harmful Business Practices

DTI Consumer Affairs Committee/Customer Contact Centre

Tel: 086 184 3384
Website: www.thedti.gov.za

Hospitals

Department of Health (government)

Tel: 012 312 0000
Fax: 012 326 4395
Website: www.health.gpg.gov.za

Hospital Association of South Africa (private)

Tel: 011 4780156
Fax: 0114780410
Website: www.hasa.co.za

Housing

Estate Agents Affairs Board

Tel: (011) 731 5600
Fax: (011) 880 9831
Email: eab@eaab.org.za
Website: www.eaab.org.za

Rental Housing Tribunals

Gauteng Rental housing Tribunal

Tel: 011 355 4209

Western Cape Rental Housing Tribunal

Tel: 021 483 2111

National Home Builders Registration Council

Tel: 0800 200 824
Website: www.nhbrc.org

Insurance

Ombudsman for Long-Term Insurance

Tel: (021) 657 5000/0860 662 837(shared-call)
Fax: (021) 674 0951
Email: info@ombud.co.za
Website: www.ombud.co.za

Ombudsman for Short-Term Insurance

Tel: (011) 726 8900/0860 726 890
Fax: (011) 726 5501
Email: info@osti.co.za
Website: www.osti.co.za

Medical

Council for Medical Schemes

0861 123 267
Tel: (012) 431 0500
Fax: (012) 430 7644
Email: information@medicalschemes.com
Website: www.medicalschemes.com

Health Professions Council of South Africa

Tel: 012 338 9300 / 1
Fax: 012 328 5120 / 325 2074
Email: webmaster@hpcsa.co.za
Website: www.hpcsa.co.za

South African Medical Association

Tel: (012) 481 2000
Fax: (012) 481 2100
Email: online@samedical.org
Website: www.samedical.org

South African Dental Association

Tel: (011) 484 5288
Telefax: (011) 642 5718
Toll Share: 0860 110 725
Website: www.sadanet.co.za

Motor industry

Motor Industry Ombudsman

Tel: (012) 841 2945
Fax: (012) 348 9303
Email: mi.ombudsman@netactive.co.za
Website: www.miosa.co.za

Pension Funds

Pension Fund Adjudicator

Cape Town
Tel: (021) 674 0209
Fax: (021) 674 0185
Email: enquiries@pfa.org.za

Johannesburg
Tel: (011) 884 8454
Fax: (011) 884 1144
Email: reception-jhb@pfa.org.za
Website: www.pfa.org.za

Press

Press Ombudsman

Tel: 011 484 3618/3612
Fax: 011 484 3619
Email: pressombudsman@presscouncil.org.za
Website: www.presscouncil.org.za

Standards

South African Bureau of Standards

Tel: (012) 428 7911
Fax: (012) 344 1568
Website: www.sabs.co.za

National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications

Head Office (Pretoria)
Tel: 012 428 5000
Email: nrcs@nrcs.org.za

Telecommunications

Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA)

Tel: (011) 321 8200
Fax: (011) 444 1919
Email: info@icasa.org.za
Website: www.icasa.org.za

Tourism

Tourism Grading Council of South Africa

Tel: (011) 895 3108
Fax: 086 611 2405
Email: enquiries@tourismgrading.co.za
Website: www.tourismgrading.co.za
Consumer Feedback: 0861 (Graded) 472 333

Government Consumer Affairs Offices

Social and Economic services

Black Sash
Helpline: 072 66 33 739
Email: help@blacksash.org.za
www.blacksash.org.za

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