Amy B

Consumer Protection Act violation

I had a horrible experience at this pharmacy(Walker Drive branch in Port Elizabeth) Yesterday I went to get my chronic medication(privately) and I am on a tight budget for the next few months, so I asked the Pharmacist, Rodney Harris, to help me stick to my budget. I could only afford R350, and my chronic meds cost R1900 normally. He was casually chatting to his colleagues and barely paying any attention to me and what we were discussing. I asked for the cheapest generics of some of my meds - Tramacet generic and alprazolam generic(I had to cut out more than half of my chronic medications because I just can't afford them) and he advised me, at the end, when I had budgeted for the most important medication that is absolutely necessary, that it would cost R323.94, but he was also short by 10 of one of my chronic medications,(request was for 60 and he gave me 50 - My usual script is for 180 tablets per month, so I had to cut it down already by 120 tablets to meet my budget) so he said the balance should arrive by today and he will make a note and I can just come and pick up the balance this evening. So I accepted and paid for my medication and went on my way. The next evening(today) I went to get my Mom some flu medication and pick up the balance of my medication too. I was then told by the female pharmacist that there is an outstanding balance for my medication from the previous month, due to a cashier not ringing up all of my medication properly at the till last month, and that the pharmacist from last night also only charged me for a quantity of 6 of my chronic medication, instead of 60. After debating with the head pharmacist, they said that I either have to pay in the extra R200 for the chronic medication, and pay for the previous month's medication that was missed by the cashier now, that he didn't charge me for, or bring the medication back. Otherwise their stock will be short. So now I have to take my chronic medication back to the pharmacy and go without it for a whole month. This is absolutely unacceptable!!! Pharmacists have a duty to assist patients with attention, care, and consideration. A business cannot later change the price after a sale is completed due to their own mistake. After you’ve paid and left, the agreement is considered concluded. Their internal error (wrong quantity captured, cashier mistake last month) is NOT my responsibility. They cannot force me to pay more later for that same transaction. They also cannot force me to return medication unless there was ***** or misrepresentation from my side (which there clearly wasn’t) They failed to charge me correctly last month, that is their administrative error. Pharmacists should always act in your best interest, provide accurate dispensing and counselling and ensure proper attention and care. They cannot hold my current medication hostage or force me to return essential medication. The pharmacy’s mistakes - both last month and now - should not be shifted onto me, especially in a way that risks your health. This is unprofessional conduct and potential violation of the CPA and I EXPECT a response and attention to be made to this issue. I paid the quoted amount and the transaction was completed. Any pricing or dispensing errors are internal and not my responsibility under the Consumer Protection Act.