The smiling sales lady hands you a pen… Your new connection awaits. Grabbing the pen you…Read the contract? (✓) Great start! Then what?
After signing a contract, you sometimes feel some form of freedom being lost to the universe. And once it has been signed the need to keep proof of this loss of freedom doesn’t seem so important. Having to memorise the various sections in a contract can at times feel overwhelming, therefore it is important to keep a copy of your contract.
A contract is a legally binding agreement between two parties and each party agrees to certain terms and conditions which are enforceable by law. It is true that most consumers sign before reading the contents of a contract. However, in some instances, consumers will not even request a copy of their own contract for future reference.
Did you know that in terms of section 79 of the Communications Act No. 8 of 2009, all telecommunications providers and broadcasting providers have an obligation to provide every customer with a copy of the contract for goods or services provided to them?
“You have the right to a fair contract, correct bill and the responsibility to read the terms and conditions before you sign and/or pay.”
The law comes into effect if the terms of the contract are breached. A contract typically involves the exchange of money, goods or services. Did you know that the law requires contracts entered into by service providers and consumers to contain specific terms and conditions with regard to:
- The supply time for initial connection and services
- The duration of the contract
- The types of maintenance service offered
- The additional charges for maintenance
- The compensation and refund arrangements if the contracted service is not met
- Methods of initiating procedures for the settlement of disputes before CRAN.
When entering into a contract, a consumer must understand that having agreed to the terms and conditions of the contract, he/she has a legal obligation to honour them, and that failure to do so may result in being sued for breach of the contract. When you finally find that copy of your contract, make sure you keep it in a safe place. They say that knowledge is power and in this case, a hardcopy is even more powerful.
Watch the Media for more information about CRAN’s #OWNit! Campaign and share your experiences with keeping a copy of your contract at facebook.com/CRANamibia.
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