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Onah Attorneys Inc • Johannesburg
Consumer Protection Attorneys – The CPA Has Teeth. We Use Them.
The Consumer Protection Act gives South African consumers some of the strongest rights in the world — six-month implied warranties, cooling-off rights, plain-language contracts and protection from unfair terms. Suppliers count on you not enforcing them. We act for consumers against dealerships, retailers, builders and service providers — and for ethical businesses needing CPA-compliant contracts and defence against opportunistic claims.
Call 011 042 8039Free Case AssessmentWhen you need consumer protection attorneys
Defective vehicles bought from dealerships
Goods that failed within 6 months — repair, replace or refund
Services performed defectively or abandoned
Misleading advertising and bait marketing
Unfair contract terms and hidden penalty clauses
Direct marketing and cooling-off cancellations
Booking and deposit forfeitures
Supplier-side: CPA-compliant T&Cs and claim defence
How we handle your matter
Rights mapping
We identify which CPA rights apply — implied quality warranty (s55/56), cooling-off (s16), cancellation (s14/17), unfair terms (s48–52) — and the strongest remedy path.
Formal demand
A CPA-grounded demand citing the exact sections and remedy election gets a different reception than an angry email.
Regulator complaints
Escalation to the Consumer Goods & Services Ombud, Motor Industry Ombudsman, or NCC — free forums suppliers must answer.
Litigation
Where forums fail, courts enforce CPA rights including refunds, damages and interest — we sue in the appropriate court.
Business compliance
For suppliers, we build compliant T&Cs, notice regimes and refund policies that prevent claims instead of inviting them.
Fees — transparent, agreed upfront
Consumer matters run on staged fixed fees proportionate to the claim; ombud-track disputes are inexpensive. Supplier compliance packages are fixed-fee by document set.
Key legislation:
- Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008
- National Credit Act 34 of 2005
Frequently asked questions
Can I return a defective product for a refund?
Within 6 months of purchase, defective goods entitle you to repair, replacement OR refund — at YOUR election, not the supplier’s (Section 56). ‘Store policy’ cannot override the Act.
Does the CPA cover used cars?
Yes — sales by dealerships (not private sellers) carry the implied quality warranty. ‘Voetstoots’ does not defeat the CPA where the seller is a supplier in the ordinary course of business.
Can I cancel a contract I signed yesterday?
Direct-marketing sales carry a 5-business-day cooling-off right (s16). Fixed-term contracts can be cancelled on 20 business days’ notice with a reasonable penalty (s14). Timeshare-style bookings have s17 cancellation rights against reasonable charges.
What are unfair contract terms?
Terms that are excessively one-sided or defeat the Act’s purpose — sweeping indemnities, forfeiture of everything paid, unilateral variation rights. Section 48–52 lets courts strike or rewrite them.
The supplier ignores me — who enforces the CPA?
The Consumer Goods & Services Ombud (retail), Motor Industry Ombudsman (vehicles), National Consumer Commission and courts. Sequenced escalation with a documented trail is what produces outcomes.
Do I need a lawyer for a consumer dispute?
For small matters, a well-drafted demand and ombud complaint may be enough — we offer these as fixed-fee steps. For vehicles, builders and high-value disputes, legal pressure changes supplier behaviour decisively.
Speak to an Attorney Today
Get straight answers about consumer protection attorneys from a firm that fights to win. First consultation — no obligation, full confidentiality.
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