Please read and abide by our terms and conditions

One of the many objectives of this column is to encourage consumers to stand up and fight for their rights when dealing with traders and suppliers who do not respect consumers' rights.

Over the years this column has proved to be an effective tool when dealing with such traders since consumers can take complete control of the situation by writing to the respective trader or supplier and successfully obtaining satisfaction.

Through this column, consumers can chase the progress of their cases with the respective suppliers while in the process copying me in. Hence, as explained in our terms and conditions: "It is up to the complainant to chase the progress of the case with the supplier while, in the process, copying me in. All letters of complaint and complainants' chasers are followed by my request/s to suppliers for their comments." In the process we remind them that the case is subject to publication.

However, despite having repeatedly made this request, many consumers still do not bother to read our conditions, printed in every column. They simply write to me about their problem without even copying in the respective trader and expect me to sort it all out for them. Please co-operate with us by reading our terms and conditions, and abiding by them.