Cosumer Talk: Travel nightmares, bottle deposits and more

This episode of Lunch with Pippa Hudson features a deep dive into two major consumer issues: travel disruptions and the failure of the bottle deposit system in South Africa. Wendy Nola shares her harrowing experience returning from New Zealand, where fog at Auckland Airport caused multiple flight delays, missed connections, and a lack of airline support—highlighting the critical value of having a travel agent during complex international trips. Her story underscores the importance of professional assistance when travel plans go awry, especially with multi-leg journeys. The second half focuses on the legal and practical breakdown of the bottle deposit system, where retailers like Diamonds Discard Liquor Stores and SPAR are reportedly refusing to refund deposits unless customers make additional purchases, despite the Consumer Protection Act requiring full refunds regardless of purchase history. Wendy reveals that both Food Lovers and SPAR’s responses contradict the law, and she calls for accountability from producers like SAB and Coca-Cola, who are responsible for ensuring the system functions as intended. The episode ends with a warning about online ticket scams, particularly through platforms like Viagogo, urging listeners to verify URLs before purchasing tickets to avoid fraud and inflated prices.