The Voice - Consumer's Voice

Dear Consumer’s Voice #1

I receive this kind of message on many occasions.

The messages reads:

“Hello,
 How are you today, Hope all is well with you and your family?
I am using this opportunity to inform you that this multi-million-dollar business has been concluded with the assistance of another partner from Chile who financed the transaction to a logical conclusion. Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trust worthiness You showed during the course of the transaction. I have left a certified international bank cheque for you worth of $850,000.00 cashable
anywhere in the world.


CONTACT: MY SECRETARY

Mr.Pascal Nelson.
Cotonou, Benin Republic.

His email address: nel_passcal1977@hotmail.fr


Therefore, You are required to use this code when you contact him:


Code question: The red blue


Code answer: Never was red
Do let me know immediately you receive it. At the moment, I'm very busy here because of the investment projects which myself and the new partner are having at hand,


Regards.


Andy .M. Dozie”

You clearly know this is a scam, don’t you? All the signs are there, the free email address, the email from the blue, the unbelievable nature of the email and the fact that they don’t know your name. People don’t just spontaneously get in touch and offer total strangers vast quantities of cash. It just doesn’t happen.

My suggestion is either to delete the email immediately or reply and tell this guy where he can stick his scam. Please also tell him we’re not that gullible in Botswana and that he should get a real job. Don’t feel the need to be polite.

Dear Consumer’s Voice #2

I am a tenant and my landlord has given me a week notice to leave his house, Can you please help? I have not yet found a house to rent and people are already moving into the house?

This isn’t acceptable. The reader later told us that she had a 2-year lease for the property and yes, hidden away in it was a terminations clause saying that both the tenant and the landlord had to give a month’s notice of termination. Even then the landlord would need to go to court to evict a tenant who refused to leave.

We told her that she should write the landlord a letter demanding that he respect the terms of the lease and give her a full month to vacate. And he needs to do it in writing, OK?

Dear Consumer’s Voice #3

Thank you for your service to us consumers.

I bought something from a major store without trying it on first, unfortunately when I got home it didn’t fit. When I tried to return it, they said they could only offer an exchange or vouchers (which I think are just another form of an exchange). I showed them that on the back of their receipt said I could exchange or get a refund, but they said that referred to South Africa and their store policy was that they do not give refunds. So I said to the manager that that was the only policy I knew since they had nothing else written anywhere contrary to that, and he said I should have asked.

I'd just like to know your take on that kind of situation. By the way, I actually have no problem with vouchers because I will definitely buy from this store again, but I just want to clear up whether or not they can have a no refunds policy, and especially if they can claim that the notices on the back of their receipts are meant for SA customers, but not for Batswana. I find that hard to believe.

Please forgive my rudeness but some stores are just stupid. How stupid can it be for their receipts, the printed legal confirmation of the sale, to say that refunds are permitted but then deny it? Have they never seen their receipts? Can’t they imagine what a judge would say if he or she saw them?

Send us the receipt and we’ll get in touch with the store. This one’s going to be fun!