The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has warned consumers in Gauteng and Western Cape provinces to exercise caution before buying tickets for the Dinosaur Expo World.
This comes after the commission received complaints from consumers alleging that the organisers of the expo might be flouting the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA).
“We understand that the Cape Town event was initially planned for the June-July school holidays and was pushed back to a later stage (September to November). The allegation against the Expo is that the organisers unilaterally reschedule shows and refuse to refund consumers who are not able to attend on the scheduled date.
“The Commission’s preliminary assessment suggests that the organisers of the event are not willing to comply with the CPA or the consumer protection regulators,” Acting National Consumer Commissioner Thezi Mabuza said on Tuesday.
The CPA provides that consumers can cancel the agreement without penalty if the supplier cannot provide the service at the agreed time, location, or date.
The Cape Town expo runs until November 6th, while the Johannesburg expo is scheduled from November 11th to January 22nd, 2023. It is promoted as Dinosaur Expo World on both their Facebook page and website, www.thedinoexpo.com.
“While the Commission is affording the Consumer Goods and Services Ombudsman to finalise the mediation process, it is vitally important for consumers to exercise caution when dealing with Dinosaur Expo World.
“The NCC reminds the organisers of this expo of their obligation to comply with the CPA and refund consumers who are unable to attend this expo as provided in the CPA. Consumers who are still waiting for their refunds are urged to file their complaints with the NCC,” she said.
Mabuza said the CPA was enacted to protect consumers from deceptive, misleading, and unfair conduct of suppliers.
“The organisers’ unavailability and unwillingness to submit to authorities impede the involvement and ultimately deprive the authorities of the opportunity to protect consumers. We urge customers to exercise due diligence, starting with confirming the locations, understanding the by-laws and regulations of the municipalities, as well as the methods of payment,” Mabuza said. – SAnews.gov.za
