Consumer Hacks with Wendy Knowler
Know your rights as a consumer. ECR’s Consumer Watchdog, Wendy Knowler, is giving us daily consumer tips to help empower you as a consumer. Here are the latest Consumer Hacks with Wendy Knowler.
5 money mistakes costing you more than you think
Wendy Knowler unpacks five common ways consumers lose money without realising it, from forgotten subscriptions and hidden bank charges to misleading car safety ratings. She also shares a simple credit score hack and explains your rights if you lose a gift voucher. Practical advice to help you stop the leaks…
Consumer scams and traps you need to know about right now
Wendy Knowler unpacks the latest consumer traps to watch out for. From a fake Woolworths meat box scam spreading on Facebook to hidden rental admin fees and insurance claims rejected over small details. She also explains how search engine ads can send you to the wrong business online and why…
Credit, lay-bys & avoiding insurance pitfalls
Find out how to improve your credit score simply by managing your card limit wisely, why lay-by might be your smartest shopping tool right now, and what to look for before buying an air fryer.
The consumer survival guide
Everyday consumer realities you only learn after something goes wrong. Cash, vouchers, homes, cars, and official records - what you need to know to avoid costly mistakes.
Before you click, renew or reply
Before you renew insurance, reply to a “bank” call, or click that email, listen to this. These Consumer Hacks expose the fine print, the scams, and the small mistakes that can cost you big money.
Consumer warnings you really need to pay attention to
One small oversight can spiral into a massive financial headache. From phone security and insurance traps to legal admin gaps, these Consumer Hacks show you what to watch out for and how to shut down the risks before they hit your wallet.
Before you lose the money
Spam that won’t stop, contracts that quietly roll over, scam calls targeting older relatives, costly buying mistakes and credit habits that follow you for years. This episode flags the warning signs early so you can act before small oversights turn into expensive regrets.
Consumer traps you should know
From pressured warranties to illegal card fees and quiet product withdrawals, these Consumer Hacks show what’s fair, what’s not and how to push back
Costly lessons they don’t warn you about
From gym contracts you can’t escape to furniture that fails too late, expiry dates that don’t mean what you think, and hidden costs of car ownership. These Consumer Hacks unpack the expensive lessons many only learn after it’s too late, and how to avoid them.
Before you answer that call… Listen to this first
From banking fraud to contract loopholes and online shopping rights, this episode unpacks the week’s biggest consumer risks and how to stay one step ahead
Smart summer hacks every South African should know
Stay ahead this season with Wendy Knowler’s latest consumer hacks - from safer holiday travel to smarter online shopping and easy home fixes. Quick tips, practical insights, and real stories to help you save money, avoid scams, and make smarter choices every day.
Buying a bakkie? if you get a special price, check that it’s a 4x4 and not a 4x2
Buying a bakkie? if you get a special price, check that it’s a 4x4 and not a 4x2
Brazen bank employee impersonators target the elderly face-to-face in their homes
Brazen bank employee impersonators target the elderly face-to-face in their homes. Fraudsters are targeting elderly people in their homes and retirement complexes by posing as bank employees.
Brokers are obliged to do more than forward emails from insurers
Brokers are obliged to do more than forward emails from insurers
Don’t put off getting medical aid until you’re older than 35
Don’t put off getting medical aid until you’re older than 35
Educate your teens about signing contracts before they get caught
Educate your teens about signing contracts before they get caught
Disable SMS-es appearing on the screen of your locked phone
Disable SMS-es appearing on the screen of your locked phone
Small businesses listen up
Small businesses listen up: if somebody calls you wanting to sell you discounted cleaning materials, just say no!
Online shopping: check out the returns policy before committing
Kim wrote: “I am about to place an online order with Duck Apparel. A promotional discount has been automatically applied to my purchase. And the Ts and Cs state that items bought on sale or part of a promotion cannot be refunded. So if the item doesn’t fit me, I…
Hey Big (Fast Food) Spender!
Food delivery apps such as Mr D and UberEats make fast food convenient, but Standard Bank warns that South Africans are overspending on takeaways, averaging R775 monthly, that’s excluding groceries.