Cancelation /Refund Decisions Made Without Customer Consent

Takealot – Cancelation /Refund Decisions Made Without Customer Consent ************* Practices

I am submitting this complaint after another deeply disappointing experience with Takealot that highlights a serious lack of transparency and trustworthiness.

I placed and paid for an order on 9 January. On 14 January, I received an email from Takealot informing me that the order had been cancelled. In this email, Takealot stated that a refund would be processed, however I was not given any choice or option regarding how that refund should be handled.

Without my consent or instruction, Takealot unilaterally decided to refund the money into my Takealot account/credit, rather than returning it directly to my bank account. I did not select this option. I was not asked. The decision was simply made on my behalf.

Only after I challenged this did a Takealot representative phone me. During this call, it became clear that this approach conveniently allows customers to repurchase items again, at a higher price, after an order has been cancelled due to an alleged “incorrect pricing error.” This confirms a pattern that many customers have experienced. It is not my problem what price they put on their add. I pay what they advertise.

This practice benefits Takealot, not the customer:

Takealot takes payment immediately

Cancels the order days later

Defaults the refund to store credit without consent

Keeps the customer’s money inside the platform

Encourages repurchase at full price

When I insisted on a proper refund to my bank account, I was told it would take 3–5 working days. This raises an obvious concern: it is instant to take my money, but delayed when returning it after Takealot fails to deliver.

The supplier involved in this order was listed as “Lekr.” Regardless of the supplier, Takealot is the platform that accepted payment and therefore carries full responsibility for how refunds are processed and how customers are treated.

Making refund decisions without customer consent, defaulting to store credit, and offering proper refunds after customers push back is not acceptable retail practice. It erodes trust and creates the impression of deliberate financial manipulation.

I am extremely disappointed and no longer consider Takealot a trustworthy company. I strongly advise other customers to be cautious, especially when purchasing items advertised on promotion.

This version is tight, factual, and hard to dismiss. If they reply publicly, they’ll have to explain why they think choosing refund methods on behalf of customers is acceptable.

Holding customers’ money for weeks, failing to deliver, then trapping the refund inside your ecosystem is ****my behavior and borders on *****ulent. The consistency of this behavior suggests it is systemic, not accidental.

This is a ****ming tactic used to purchase items at higher price.

Service levels are terrible. Accountability is nonexistent.

Takealot has perfected the art of wasting customers’ time while pretending this is normal retail behavior. It isn’t. It’s misleading, *********, and deeply disappointing.

I would strongly advise potential customers to think twice before trusting Takealot with their money.