Money's Worth

Over the years I have been caught in a situation where by I bought something and after a short while it would become faulty. What makes it even more frustrating is that this is common amongst things that do not come with a guarantee. I remember buying a pair of classic sneakers with money I had got for my twenty first birthday from my grandmother. Like with most new pairs of shoes, they become my ‘special ones’. However after wearing them two or three times within a couple months the sole tore. I was literally heartbroken because of the amount of money I had spent on them and the sentimental value they carried. I am sure a lot of people share my sentiments on faulty goods you cannot get a replacement for because you have used it. However there is a knight in shining armour that has come to save the day, The Consumer Protection Act.

As with most government acts I initially did not pay much attention to The Consumer Protection Act. It was only later once I discovered the purpose and power of the act that I realised how it affects me and everyone. The main purpose of the act is to protect and increase the welfare of the consumer. This means that the act outlines your rights as a consumer. It seeks to protect the consumer from unfair and improper practises carried out within the market. The Act is also not only limited to purchases, it also affects conduct and contractual agreements between companies and consumers.