Everybody is a ‘consumer’ and nobody wants substandard goods or services. A recent report from Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS) is designed to help you protect yourself. Here’s how to avoid getting cheated.

Get to know your role. Checking whether goods and services are of a proper standard is your duty; someone is not going to do it for you. Know you rights. Without knowledge of the ones rights, you are leaving yourself open to being cheated.

Read the instructions! We all do it. In our haste we rip off the packaging and start plugging things in, casting the manual aside. But consumers are obliged to follow the instructions for use of products and services. Products and services can be spoiled and develop non-compliance at the hands of consumers.

Look out for RBS certificates. These guarantee that this product or service confirms to the standards. This certification can be in form of product certification or system certification. This is not only applicable to national consumers but also international side through certification of exports.

Know how to report complaints. When a customer is purchases substandard goods or services, he or she can present a complaint to RBS. A report will be issued which can be used in courts of law or in police investigations. Something not right?

Tell someone about it. Consumers need not to sit back and see governments suppressing them with laws. Stand up and bring changes positively.

Contact: deave204@yahoo.com