March 15 marks the 26th World Consumer Rights Day promoted by Consumers International http://www.consumersinternational.org/
This is an independent and authoritative global voice for consumers with over 220 member organisations in 115 countries. South Africa has two member organisations namely the Office of Consumer Protection, Department of Trade and Industry and the National Consumer Forum (NCF).
World Consumer Rights Day is an opportunity for these organisations to promote consumer awareness and understanding in South Africa. The NCF 2008 campaign focuses on utilising consumer rights to eradicate poverty, which will be the focal topic of their conference at the Sandton Convention Centre this Friday. South African businesses are also stepping up to the plate.
African Bank Investment Limited’s (ABIL) Consumer Advocate Office is co-sponsoring several initiatives in aid of World Consumer Rights Day. According to spokesperson Marilyn Budow, they are hosting a World Consumer Rights Day celebration with their staff on Friday 14 March and have organised several guest speakers and awards for their staff consumer champions.
In addition they are sponsoring the publication of a free South African National Consumer Union (SANCU) consumer rights booklet which will be available at the end of March. In conjunction with Jozi FM, ABIL are also promoting World Consumer Rights Day at Maponya Mall in Soweto on Saturday, 15 March 2008.
African Bank is just one of more than 150 organisations that is using getclosure!, an innovative online consumer complaints management portal, to respond to consumer complaints.
The service focuses on promoting and enhancing the quality of service provided by suppliers rather than highlighting poor service delivery in South Africa. In essence, getclosure! is encouraging organisations to make constructive use of consumer complaints in order to enhance service delivery in South Africa. Getclosure.co.za is also a valuable source of information and education about consumer rights and the remedies that are available to consumers to exercise these rights.
More than 90% of consumer feedback about the getclosure! service is positive and strikingly, more than 60% are satisfied or happier with the outcome of complaints delivered for them by getclosure.co.za.
About getclosure! getclosure! is South Africa’s leading consumer affairs portal offering a Web-based complaints management service that assists South African consumers and businesses to effectively and discreetly resolve customer complaints.
Contact Details: For more information, visit http://www.getclosure.co.za
