FTC alerts consumers regarding certain businesses, individuals |12 April 2025
The Fair Trading Commission has issued three consumer alerts, urging consumers to exercise extreme caution when engaging with certain individuals and businesses. The consumer protection institution issued the alerts yesterday.
DAM’s Enterprise
According to the Fair Trading Commission (FTC), seven (7) complaints have been lodged with FTC from 2023 up until now, against DAM’s Enterprise for selling electronic items with defects.
The company which is registered to Daniella Angele Elegimi, Ali Maged and Ali Awaad, is a Facebook wholesaler that sells electrical appliances, office machinery and equipment, textile and garments, beauty products, household items, food and beverages.
The enterprise has also received two fixed penalty notices from the FTC for issuing receipts that are not in accordance with the requirements of Section 77 of the Fair Trading Act.
In addition to calling on consumers to exercise extreme caution when engaging with this business for electrical items, the FTC also advises that they exercise their right to receive a complete receipt.
Perry Vidot
Consumers are further alerted to be cautious when dealing with an individual operating under the name of Perry Vidot, who has been selling YETI products through the Facebook Marketplace, claiming they are original.
As per a complaint received by FTC, the YETI products for sale by Perry Vidot are fake, and the individual refuses to issue any refunds. Furthermore, the seller becomes unreachable through their Facebook account or phone.
Upon the commission’s investigations, this individual had deleted their Facebook account, and no license or home/registered business address could be found for them, making it impossible for the authorities to contact them to request a refund, report issues or receive an explanation.
However, according to recent investigations, the account has resurfaced and the individual is still selling on Facebook Marketplace. It is currently unknown if this account is a fake account.
Consumers are advised that in the event that they purchase from the individual and a dispute or issues arise, they may not be able to receive a refund as it remains to be established whether the account is fake.
Mike Maria
Consumers are further alerted that they may not receive a remedy to issues arising from transactions with Mike Maria for construction works. Mike Maria has been the subject of five (5) complaints lodged for failing to perform and complete the construction work in a timely manner, or to the quality that consumers are entitled. The alert states that Mike Maria has failed to give the consumer notice of any unavoidable delay in the performance of the service.
Mr Maria is yet to settle five fines and refunds imposed by the Fair Trading tribunal last year. The tribunal ruled on August 7, that he was to pay four fines / refunds of
R14,437.97, R20,000, a third one of R6,500, and another one to a sum of R30,000, for contravening section 104 of the Act.
The tribunal further ruled on September 11, that he was to pay a fine / refund of
R15,900.
Consumers are urged to exercise extreme caution when engaging with this individual for construction. Should any issues or disputes arise, they may not receive a remedy nor be able to execute judgement as he currently owes several complainants and has failed, refused or neglected to settle his debts.
Compiled by Laura Pillay