rants and ramblings

legal matters

I accompanied Joy today to Greenhills. She went back for the second time to bring back a defective cellphone. I can see that most of the sellers there doesn't know anything about commercial law and what the consumer's rights are. They are not even aware that it is absolutely against the law to refuse to exchange or return the things bought. Of course, in order to return or exchange something it has to be for valid reasons and within reasonable time.

She asked me to accompany her because she might flare up like the last time. When we arrived there, we looked for the stall. Viola! There they were just opening up.. Good timing. So we approached them and Joy talked to the saleslady-- she told them about the defective cellphone.. and even before she was able to finished her story.. a young man, with the same problem arrived. He's also returning his defective cell. So the saleslady checked the said units and then another lady arrived-- returning for the 4th time… she's also complaining the unit that she bought last Saturday. I was waiting for the saleslady to give some rude remarks or a hint of being haughty and I would slap her shut. REALLY.. I was there giving a comment or two about the problem and keeping Joy's head cool. All the while the saleslady was talking to her boss.. Getting orders or something. So to make the long story short-- they changed Joy's unit.. and I hope that this unit is not defective anymore…

Consumers should not be afraid to return the defective items that they have bought. It's your money.. your money is worth something that would satisfy your needs and would make you happy. But if you want to settle for the thing that you have.. it's your own frigging problem anymore. The following are for public knowledge (Sec 66-73 of R.A. 7394 also known as Consumer Act of the Philippines).

1. No return, No Exchange rule is against the law.
2. If you are not satisfied with the item that you bought-- return it. It's your right to get the value of your money.
3. In case, there are no express warranties in the receipt: It is implied that in case the item is defective, the consumer has the right to return the said item. They can choose whether to ask for a refund or change the item.
4. If you're going to ask for an exchange, you can only change the item of SAME style.
5. Ask for refund or exchange within reasonable time.

Where everything else fails.. You've used all your charm for nothing and your beauty has long gone due to the refusal of the seller to give in to your demands… Do the following:

1. Photocopy the receipt/s.
2. Write a petition or letter-complaint and filed it with the National Consumer Affairs Council. Which is composed of the following Departments: D. of Health, of Trade and Industry, of Education, Culture and Sports, and of Agriculture. In each department they have a NCAC. Look for them.

Don't let abusive sellers fool you and cheat you of your money. Know your rights.