Consumer rights in Namibia 15 march 2010

1. Consumer Rights in Namibia
Need for a Consumer Charter
and
Consumer Register
Milton Louw
Founder – Namibia Consumer Protection Group

2. What is the NCPG
• Namibia Consumer Protection Group
• Is a non-profit Namibian organisation that
campaigns for customer rights. It focuses on
illegal and unethical behavior by Namibian
companies.
• Founded in 2009
• Facebook Group – 260 members

3. NCPG Focus
• Namibian Consumer Charter
• Consumer Awareness – Consumer Day
• Partnership for Information provision
• Sectors problems experienced with:
▫ Banks
▫ Debt Counseling
▫ Legal Insurance
▫ Life Insurance
▫ Real Estate
▫ Food Industry

4. Relationships
• Ministry of Trade and Industry
• Namibia Competition Commission
• Namibia Consumer Trust
• Credit Information Bureau Namibia
• Newspapers
• New Media – Internet groups
• Consumer International
• Creditreform Germany

5. Consumer Charter
• The aim of the Charter is to develop corporate practice in light
of consumer concerns.
▫ The right to basic goods and services which guarantee survival.
▫ The right to be protected against the marketing of goods or the
provision of services that are hazardous to health and life.
▫ The right to be protected against dishonest or misleading
advertising or labeling.
▫ The right to choose products and services at competitive prices
with an assurance of satisfactory quality.

6. Consumer Charter (continued)
• The right to express consumer interests in the making
and execution of government policy.
• The right to be compensated for misrepresentation,
shoddy goods or unsatisfactory services.
• The right to acquire the knowledge and skills
necessary to be an informed consumer.
• The right to live and work in an environment which
permits a life of dignity and well-being.

7. Consumer Register
• Database of consumer information
▫ Public information
 Name
 Surname
 Address
 Contact details
▫ Private information
 Employee information
 Educational Qualifications
 Creditors

8. Proposed Financial Institutions Bill
National register of credit agreements (416)
▫ (1) The Authority must establish and maintain, in the manner and form
prescribed in the market standards, a single national register of
outstanding credit agreements based on the information
provided to it in terms of this section.
▫ (2) Upon entering into or amending a credit agreement, other than a
pawn transaction or an incidental credit agreement, the credit provider
must report either directly to the national register established in terms of
this section, or to a credit bureau, such information, in the manner and
form, and within the period prescribed in the market standards.
▫ (3) A credit provider must report the particulars of the termination or
satisfaction of any credit agreement reported in terms of subsection (2),
in the manner and form prescribed in the market standards, either
directly to the national register established in terms of this section, or to
a credit bureau.

9. Purpose of consumer register
• Citizen Information
▫ Electronic vault = certified copies of originals
▫ Accident information
▫ Next of kin for inheritance
• Assist in decreasing indebtedness
• Better debt collection
• Decreased credit risk = decreased interest rates
on bank loans

10. The future
• Consumer information awareness
▫ Radio, Television
▫ Newspapers
▫ New media
• Education
▫ Consumer Booklets
▫ Consumer Charter for Namibian Business
 Signed by businesses

11. Thank you
• Questions?
 Milton Louw
 Tel: 081 3043282
 miltonlouw@gmail.com