Lewis to answer before National Consumer Tribunal over ‘compulsory delivery fees’
It is alleged that Lewis Stores contravened the National Credit Act by charging first-time borrowers compulsory delivery fees on in-store bought goods
Lewis Stores will have to answer to long-standing allegations that it contravened the National Credit Act by charging first-time borrowers compulsory delivery fees – even to debtors who walked out of the retailer’s stores carrying newly bought cell phones and laptops. The National Consumer Tribunal decided late last week that it will hear a complaint against Lewis brought by Summit Financial Partners, a financial wellness company known for taking on credit providers for their misdeeds. In granting Summit permission to refer its complaint directly to the tribunal, the NCT’s Professor Tanya Woker said there was no dispute regarding the fact that Lewis had charged compulsory delivery fees to first-time consumers of credit – there was only a dispute regarding how the NCA should be interpreted. Summit has alleged that the levying of compulsory delivery fees is a contravention of one section of the act and constitutes prohibited conduct while Lewis has said the practice is governed by ano...
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