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New app makes CPA understandable to all

Cape Town - The National Consumer Commission, which is responsible for enforcing and carrying out the functions assigned to it in terms of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), has resolved many cases since its inception.

But at the end January 2013, it was still saddled with a backlog of 9 965 unresolved complaints. Many of these are simply because people are confused about what the CPA covers and how it can be enforced.

In a bid to create an easy-to-understand version of the CPA in simple language, specialist liability insurance underwriter Camargue Underwriting Managers and Madeasy Business Consultants have launched www.madeasy.mobi.

The mobi site also directs users, both business and consumers, to valuable resources and further information. In the second phase of development, it will be a portal for formal complaints.

Madeasy's Advocate Neville Melville, author of the bestselling Consumer Protection Act Made Easy, points out that "both consumers and businesses are finding it hard to navigate the ‘legalese’ of the act (CPA)".

Says Melville: "We launched www.madeasy.mobi to give individuals and organisations a ‘plain-language’ view, as well as very practical, real life examples, of when rights may have been infringed upon and what can be done to resolve the issue/s.”

The mobi site is a web application and essentially an electronic pocket guide to the CPA. It uses a practical, step-by-step approach and can be accessed through the web, on smartphones and other handheld devices such as tablets, making it readily available to a wider audience.

Users are directed through a number of key portals: rights, scenarios, complaints and business help. This aims to give visitors an idea of their rights in various circumstances; provides typical scenarios they may identify with; offers places to seek advice or resolution, and to educate businesses of their obligations.

An entire portal is dedicated to typical scenarios customers and consumers may face. For example, if you are buying a pair of sunglasses but two different prices are displayed for the same sunglasses, which price are you obliged to pay by law?

The mobi site, under Scenarios, may offer a similar situation and the legal standpoint to answer the question.

Information on the site is free, but additional information for a specific query or topic can be accessed as a paid-for option for a period of an hour, a month or a year - either by topic or for full access to the site.

Information and links are in place for advice in implementing the act as a business, or making a legal claim as a consumer.

An extensive list of relevant consumer bodies is also provided if additional information, advice or action is required.


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