East Coast Radio - Catch Up ECR Consumerwatch

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
132 – 152

Yay or nay to eating food past its best before date?

The idea that shelf-stable food such as biscuits, canned goods, cereals, maize meal, sauces and pasta goes from being perfectly okay up to the 'best before' date on the pack to 'rotten,' 'off', 'toxic' or 'unsafe' is as ridiculous as it is widespread.
21 Feb 2019 7 min

Love me, love my privacy

Who besides you knows your personal details, bank account details and passwords, enabling them to impersonate you, open and close accounts in your name and transact online, buying stuff and transferring funds out of your account? When I asked a short version of that question on Twitter this week, I…
24 Jan 2019 8 min

Wow service! Now for the fun stuff on Consumerwatch

Thanks to social media, consumer discontent confronts us everywhere - Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp groups - lots of grumpy, angry, frustrated consumers venting, naming and shaming. And yes, most of it well justified! But we also need to take the time to let others know when the service is amazing. So…
13 Dec 2018 10 min

That “free” thing will cost you lots

The lure of free goodies has been used by marketers for generations to lure consumers in, and then get them to commit to paying - usually a lot - for anything from timeshare deals to vacuum cleaners, dietary supplements and face creams.
6 Dec 2018 6 min

Open lines on ECR Consumerwatch

This week was our last episode of the year for Consumerwatch with Wendy Knowler, so we gave listeners a chance to speak to her about any consumer issue affecting them. Listen here…
29 Nov 2018 10 min

Salmonella cases in KZN: update

Following the recent salmonella cases in KwaZulu-Natal, Wendy Knowler gives us an update on the story in today's Consumerwatch.
15 Nov 2018 8 min

Flight delays: How South African airlines compare

Anyone who flies regularly has experienced the frustration of flight delays. It can be utterly devastating - missed meetings, weddings, funerals, concerts, and connecting flights. Too often passengers are told 'too little too late', or delayed due to 'operational reasons. They’re told even less about the compensation they’re entitled to,…
1 Nov 2018 11 min

Laying down the lay-by law

Consumer-friendly CPA lay-by cancellation rules can make life tough for retailers, but they can’t do it their way, says Wendy Knowler.
25 Oct 2018 6 min

The contract that won’t let you go

No company likes to let a customer go, and in the past, many have come up with policies which make it incredibly difficult for you to cancel. Such as - if you don’t cancel your three-year contract on the very last day of those three years, you will be locked…
18 Oct 2018 8 min

Orange bags: Best you buy your own

The Orange Bag recycling project started off as a big moment for the city. Durban Solid Waste (DSW) showed the rest of the country’s large municipal waste departments the way by providing a mechanism for residents to separate their waste in their homes, and divert a meaningful percentage of it…
4 Oct 2018 6 min

Adding fuel to the fake fire - Part 2

Social media gives we consumers a powerful voice; a means to expose how we’ve been wronged by companies; and to warn others of dodgy practices and rip offs. And you’re safe - legally - if what you say publicly is true. Factual, real - not fake.
27 Sep 2018 1 min

Adding fuel to the fake fire - Part 1

Social media gives we consumers a powerful voice; a means to expose how we’ve been wronged by companies; and to warn others of dodgy practices and rip offs. And you’re safe - legally - if what you say publicly is true. Factual, real - not fake.
27 Sep 2018 1 min

Loyalty doesn’t pay when it comes to insurance

Far from it - and I speak from experience. Four years ago, I’d been with the same insurer for 17 years when I decided to do some comparative premium shopping and found out I’d been grossly overpaying.
20 Sep 2018 6 min
132 – 152