New Tech International has reportedly been forcing small businesses in South Africa into paying for consumables they had not ordered.
South African news site Daily News/Independent Online has reported that office products supplier New Tech International has been forcing small businesses to pay for consumables the companies did not order under threat of legal action.
The website had previously reported on the company’s actions under a previous name, Haltrex Systems, stating that the company “was offering printer cartridges to small companies…if they accepted, they’d be sent th cartridges, but then a second delivery would arrive and when the company protested, they’d be told it was a “bulk order” deal, and they were threatened with legal action if they refused to pay”.
The owner of the company stated that it was down to salespeople, as “trading is tough and sales are down, so some of them are acting in a stupid way”, adding that no contracts or agreements existed.
The website adds that many companies have complained about New Tech’s actions, with a site for company complaints easily found online.
The article reminds readers that the South African Consumer Protection Act is designed to save companies from getting stuck in such a situation, though one example of a worker affected showed that the worker felt so guilty she paid for the last delivery – which was not ordered – out of her own money out of embarrassment for the company.
The journalist writing for the site got in touch with New Tech’s manager to stop the orders being sent to the company, which continued even after she left.