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
12 – 32

Uber and their cancellation penalty

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…
2 Sep 2021 8 min

Are funeral policy increases killing your budget? Wendy Knowler advises

Hollard said it had to implement a second premium increase as result of mortality experience exceeding expected experience across our entire funeral portfolio, over a period of more than a year. It affects the insurer’s direct book of business - that’s policies taken out over the phone and policies sold…
19 Aug 2021 7 min

Scammers using Capitec bank accounts as so-called business accounts

Fraudster pay so-called money mules to open bank accounts, and when the victims’ money lands in that new account, they transfer it to the fraudster, thereby ensuring that the fraudster remains untraceable. “Capitec does not currently offer business accounts, therefore people should not believe a business that states it has…
12 Aug 2021 6 min

How to - Insurance after looting

If you have car and household contents insurance cover, then a tiny part of your monthly premium is paid every month by your insurer to Sasria, a government-owned insurer providing cover against risks such as civil commotion, public disorder, strikes, riots and terrorism. The good news is while Sasria’s (the…
15 Jul 2021 8 min

Critical online shopping advice by Wendy Knowler

Seeing is believing - but seeing on a computer screen can be tricky When buying goods on line you always run the risk of being unpleasantly surprised when they are delivered. Going by photos and descriptions can never come close to being able to see and interact with a product…
8 Jul 2021 7 min

Event cancellations often lead to conflict between consumers and service providers

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…
24 Jun 2021 4 min

Your insurance policy does not get invalidated once you get vaccinated

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…
17 Jun 2021 6 min

Edgars accounts' chaos: A 'how to' checklist for the closure procedure

Never say die - those accounts that defy closure In last week’s Consumerwatch we talked about the many Edgars account holders who’ve been battling for quite some time to close their accounts - in some cases those accounts suddenly came to life again last year with amounts for club membership,…
10 Jun 2021 8 min

Easier cash deposits and all about car jamming.

Got quite a bit of cash to deposit? You’ll pay less in fees if you do it at the supermarket, says Consumerwatch’s Wendy Knowler. That’s provided you’re depositing larger amounts - R1200 or more. For smaller amounts, your bank’s ATM deposit fee will probably be less than the supermarket’s standard…
20 May 2021 7 min

Bank notification SMS: How to know when it's a scam

Could those SMS bank notifications be false security? The Ombudsman for Banking Services of SA released its 2020 annual report yesterday, revealing that fraud cases dominated the five top complaints categories: current accounts, internet banking, personal loans, credit cards and ATMs. Current account cases increased by a dramatic 7% from…
13 May 2021 7 min

"Minimum card swipe is a lie", Wendy Knowler explains why

Don’t let a retailer charge you extra for card payments, or dictate how much you must spend, says Wendy Knowler in this week’s Consumerwatch. IT’S ILLEGAL! Wendy also shares: What your car colour choice tells your insurer about you Did you know that the colour of your car has an…
6 May 2021 7 min

Buying a bed? Don’t be caught napping, says Wendy Knowler

Do your homework - on the bed and the retailer - before you commit. Never has it been more important to do your research on a company before doing business with it. Check how they handle complaints on HelloPeter, on Twitter, if they have an account, and do a general…
15 Apr 2021 9 min
12 – 32