What can consumers do if their rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act are violated?

Under the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA), consumers have the right to take legal action against the supplier if their rights are violated. This is significant because the CGA provides consumers with protection and remedies when goods or services fail to meet certain guarantees, such as being of acceptable quality or fit for the particular purpose.

Taking legal action allows consumers to seek various remedies, including compensation for losses incurred due to the violation, a repair, replacement, or in some cases, a refund. This reflects the intention of the Act to ensure that suppliers must adhere to these guarantees and that consumers have recourse when they do not.

While other options provide possible responses, they do not fully capture the breadth of consumers' rights under the CGA. For instance, seeking compensation only from the supplier limits the potential remedies available, and returning goods for a refund may only be one aspect of what consumers can pursue. Contacting the media for exposure can raise awareness but does not directly address the legal rights or remedies that consumers are entitled to under the law.