The National Consumer Commission announced that it is embarking on a campaign to raise awareness about consumers’ rights when it comes to the display of prices.

This is to prevent especially vulnerable consumers from suffering unfair treatment at the hands of retailers.

 
"Consumers with low literacy levels, which make up a large portion of the population, can easily be duped by unscrupulous retailers, especially during the busy festive season shopping rush."  
 
The campaign which started at the beginning of the week will also seek to encourage voluntary compliance amongst retailers with the Consumer Protection Act’s pricing provisions, which are contained in section 23 of the Act.
 
According to the NCC, key amongst the pricing provisions is that information should be adequately displayed, expressed in the currency of the country, and be written in plain and understandable language.
 
The NCC also noted with concern in recent times a growing trend by retailers to display prices in multiple currencies on a single item, which it believes has the potential to create confusion for consumers.

It is hoping to gain better understanding of the impact of this practice through research which it is undertaking as part of the campaign.
 
Over the next two weeks the NCC will also undertake unannounced inspections to retailers around Tshwane, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Middelburg in Mpumalanga Province to assess compliance with the CPA’s pricing provisions.