Nobantu N

Trapped into a contract I never wanted

Last year I went to a Jet store looking to buy a phone with cash or as a laybuy. After chosing one I liked, the consultant at the store suggested a different payment method. As she explained it the Digital care contract normally included a 24 months payments plan but I could call in after signing the contract to have it adjusted to a 6 months contract instead, which is what I wanted. She insisted that alterations to the payment plan were possible and that I should sign. Believing her, I did only to be confused by the first when the first payment was taken from my account as the amount was to low for a six months payment plan. I went back to the store repeatedly to speak to the representative and her colleagues, only to eventually find out that the person I dealt with was still new to the job and didn't explain the terms clearly. They claimed there was nothing they could do to help me in-store and they told me to contact Digital Care directly for help. Contacting Digital Care has been pointless. Even when I explained the situation they just blamed me for not getting clarification on the contract terms before signing. I have already paid the value of the phone which was on sale for R2 000 and continuing with this contract would mean I will end up paying a total of R8 000 in the end. I tried to ask about the cancellation policy and fee but they say cancellation is an additional fee which they never mentioned as early as I could have cancelled. This is a breach of my rights under South Africa's Consumer Protection Act.