AC Direct Legal
Read the current AC Direct policy and use the section index to jump to the information you need.
Last updated: 26 August 2026
Welcome to AC Direct. These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the AC Direct website located at www.acdirect.co.za, including any related mobile sites and software applications (collectively, the "Website"). The Website is owned and operated by AC Direct Africa (PTY) Ltd ("AC Direct", "we", "us", and "our"), VAT 4240284846, of 64 Kroonarend Street, Daleside, Randvaal, 1961.
By accessing or using the Website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must not use the Website. These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and AC Direct.
By completing a purchase on the Website, you accept the version of these Terms presented to you at checkout. We may update the Website terms prospectively, but an update will not affect contracts already formed.
The Website enables you to shop online for an extensive range of goods including air conditioning units, heat pumps, solar products, accessories, installation services, and related products. Our goal is to provide you with a seamless and secure shopping experience, backed by decades of industry expertise and professional service.
AC Direct has been serving customers since 1976, building a reputation for quality products and exceptional customer service. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of business practice and ensuring that your experience with us exceeds your expectations.
These Terms apply to all users of the Website, including browsers, customers, and contributors of content. Please read these Terms carefully before accessing or using our Website.
To access certain features of the Website, you may be required to register for an account. When you register, you agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information about yourself as prompted by the registration form. You also agree to maintain and promptly update your registration data to keep it accurate, current, and complete.
You are responsible for safeguarding the password that you use to access the Website and for any activities or actions under your password. We encourage you to use strong passwords (passwords that use a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols) with your account. You agree not to disclose your password to any third party.
You must notify AC Direct immediately upon becoming aware of any breach of security or unauthorized use of your account. AC Direct will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to comply with this security obligation. You may not use as a username the name of another person or entity that is not lawfully available for use.
The Website is intended for users who are at least 18 years old. By using this Website, you represent and warrant that you are of legal age to form a binding contract with AC Direct and meet all of the foregoing eligibility requirements. If you are under 18 years of age, you may only use the Website with the involvement and consent of a parent or guardian.
Registering does not itself consent to direct marketing. We may send transactional communications needed to administer your account, orders, warranties, or service requests. We will send promotional emails or newsletters only where you have separately opted in or another lawful basis permits them, and each electronic marketing message will provide an appropriate opt-out.
AC Direct implements appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect the Website and your account against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. We use SSL encryption to protect sensitive information transmitted online. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
All orders placed through the Website are subject to acceptance by AC Direct. We reserve the right to refuse or cancel any order for any reason, including but not limited to product availability, errors in product or pricing information, or problems identified by our fraud detection systems.
The display of products on our Website does not constitute an offer to sell. Your order is an offer to purchase the products listed in your order. A contract of sale is formed only after the full payment reflects in AC Direct's account and AC Direct sends you a payment confirmation. An automated order-received or payment-pending message is not acceptance.
We strive to maintain accurate stock levels on our Website. However, stock availability may change rapidly, and we cannot guarantee that all items displayed are in stock at the time of your order. If an item you ordered is out of stock, we will contact you as soon as possible to offer alternatives or a full refund.
Product images are for illustrative purposes only and may differ from the actual product. We make every effort to display colors and images accurately, but we cannot guarantee that your device's display will accurately reflect the true color of products. Specifications and features may vary from those shown.
AC Direct reserves the right to limit the quantity of items purchased per person, per household, or per order. These restrictions may be applied to orders placed by the same account, the same credit card, and/or orders that use the same billing and/or shipping address.
We may, at our discretion, limit or cancel quantities purchased per person, per household, or per order. We may also discontinue any product at any time without notice. Any offer for any product or service made on this Website is void where prohibited by law.
Notice: Black Friday and Peak Season
During Black Friday or other peak trading periods, delivery turnaround times may be extended to 7 to 14 working days. Installation bookings are scheduled chronologically on a first-come, first-served basis. Pricing is valid only while stocks last. A contract forms only when payment reflects and AC Direct sends the payment confirmation described above.
Prices displayed on the Website are in South African Rand (ZAR) and include VAT unless otherwise stated. We may change displayed prices before a contract is formed. Once a contract has been formed, we will not increase the agreed price without your express agreement.
If we identify a pricing error before a contract is formed, we will notify you and give you the option to submit a new order at the corrected price or withdraw your offer and receive a refund of any payment. After a contract is formed, any cancellation or correction will occur only with your agreement or to the extent permitted by law.
AC Direct accepts various payment methods including major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express), debit cards, EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer), PayFast, PayGate, PayJustNow, Float, and other payment methods as indicated at checkout. All card and online payments are processed through secure payment providers that use encryption and other safeguards to protect your financial information.
We do not store your credit card details on our servers. Your payment information is transmitted directly to our payment processors using secure technology. When you place an order, your payment will be authorized at the time of purchase. For EFT payments, your order will be processed once payment is received and confirmed.
Best Value Review Framework: Every product in our range is competitively priced and backed by expert installation and local warranty support. If you find a lower total price on an identical product, send us the official written quote and we will review it under the following conditions:
For orders over a certain value, we may offer payment plans or financing options through our approved partners. These options will be presented at checkout if available for your order. Terms and conditions of financing arrangements are provided by the financing partner and are separate from these Terms.
AC Direct offers nationwide delivery throughout South Africa. We partner with reputable courier services to ensure your order reaches you safely and efficiently. Delivery times and costs vary depending on your location and the size of your order.
Standard delivery typically takes 3-7 business days for metropolitan areas and 5-10 business days for outlying areas. Express delivery options may be available at an additional cost. Delivery times are estimates only and are not guaranteed, as they may be affected by factors beyond our control such as weather, public holidays, or carrier delays.
Any delivery charge for an outlying, remote, or high-risk area will be disclosed and agreed before the contract is formed. We will not add a delivery surcharge after sending payment confirmation unless you expressly agree to the change.
You will receive a tracking number via email once your order has been dispatched. You can use this tracking number to monitor the progress of your delivery. If you have any questions about your delivery, please contact our customer service team with your order number.
Someone must be present to receive the delivery at the specified address. If you are not available, the courier may leave a card with instructions for rescheduling delivery or collecting your package from a nearby depot. To the extent permitted by law, AC Direct is not responsible for delays caused by failed delivery attempts or incorrect address information supplied by the customer.
For customers who prefer to collect their orders, we offer collection from our designated locations. Collection is available during business hours and you will be notified when your order is ready. Please bring a valid ID and your order confirmation when collecting your purchase.
Upon delivery or collection, the customer must ensure that the goods are inspected by a designated person authorised to receive the order. The packaging and products must be thoroughly inspected for any visible damage before signing the delivery note. If any damage is identified, the customer must clearly endorse the delivery note accordingly, refuse acceptance of the goods, and immediately notify AC Direct.
AC Direct will investigate the matter with the relevant courier or supplier and assist in resolving the issue. Please report visible or concealed transit damage as soon as reasonably possible, preferably within 24 hours, and provide photographs where possible. Signing a delivery note without recording damage, or reporting damage after 24 hours, may affect the available evidence but does not limit your statutory rights.
If AC Direct introduces a marketplace in future, a product offered by a third party will be clearly identified on the product page and at checkout before you place the order. No third-party sellers are currently active on the Website.
If you buy a clearly identified marketplace product, you contract directly with the Third Party Seller named in the listing and checkout. The seller, rather than AC Direct, will be responsible for accepting the order, supplying the product, providing the required seller information, and performing that contract.
The Third Party Seller must comply with the Consumer Protection Act, the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, and all other applicable laws. Nothing in these Terms limits statutory rights you may have against the seller, AC Direct, or another person, and nothing excludes liability that applicable law places on AC Direct.
AC Direct may facilitate communication or a complaint process without becoming the seller or replacing any statutory remedy. Any marketplace terms and the seller's contact, return, warranty, VAT, and dispute information will be displayed before a marketplace order is placed.
VAT Registration: A Third Party Seller may charge VAT and issue a tax invoice only if that seller is a registered VAT vendor.
Your return rights depend on why the goods are being returned. Statutory rights under the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (ECTA) and Consumer Protection Act (CPA) are separate from AC Direct's discretionary return policy and cannot be excluded by that policy.
ECTA cooling-off right: Where section 44 of ECTA applies to an online transaction, you may cancel without reason and without penalty within seven days after receiving goods. Subject to ECTA's statutory exclusions, the only charge is the direct cost of returning the goods, and any refund is made within the period required by ECTA.
Consumer Protection Act returns: The CPA provides return and refund rights in circumstances including incorrect delivery, goods that could not be examined before delivery and do not meet the agreement, goods unsuitable for a purpose communicated to us, and unsafe, failed or defective goods. The applicable time periods, return costs, and permitted deductions depend on the relevant CPA section.
Discretionary returns: If no statutory return right applies, AC Direct may approve a return of a new, unused product in resalable condition within seven days of delivery. Reasonable return transport, handling, use, or restoration costs will be disclosed before that discretionary return is accepted. Handling and administration fees do not apply to returns required by law, except for a specific reasonable charge or deduction expressly permitted by law.
Custom or special-order goods, installed or altered goods, opened consumables, and clearance goods may be excluded only from discretionary returns or where a statutory exclusion applies. These categories do not remove a right that applicable law gives you.
To initiate a return, please contact our customer service team at info@acdirect.co.za or call our helpline. We will provide instructions, the return address, and a reference number. Following this process helps us handle the return promptly, but failure to obtain a reference number does not invalidate a statutory right.
Once your return is received, we will notify you and assess it under the applicable statutory or discretionary process. Refunds will be paid to the original payment method unless another lawful method is agreed, and within any period required by applicable law.
For exchanges, if you need to exchange an item for the same item in a different size or specification, please contact us. We will guide you through the exchange process and ensure you receive the correct item as quickly as possible. Price differences may apply for exchanges to different products.
Manufacturer and extended warranties are additional to, and do not replace, the implied warranty and other rights provided by the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). Express-warranty duration and terms vary by product and manufacturer and are provided on the product page or with the product.
Under sections 55 and 56 of the CPA, consumers are entitled to goods that are reasonably suitable, of good quality, in good working order, free of defects, and durable for a reasonable period. If goods fail to meet those standards within six months after delivery, you may return them without penalty and at the supplier's risk and expense, and you may choose a repair, replacement or refund as provided by the CPA.
An express warranty may exclude loss caused by misuse, abuse, unauthorised alteration, improper installation, or ordinary wear and tear only to the extent that the exclusion is lawful and the excluded conduct caused the failure. Such a condition does not limit your statutory rights.
To make a warranty claim, please contact our customer service team with your order number, a description of the issue, and photos or videos demonstrating the defect. We may require you to return the product for inspection before processing your claim. Return shipping for valid warranty claims will be covered by AC Direct.
We will assess the claim under the CPA and any additional express warranty. Where the CPA gives you the choice of remedy, AC Direct or a manufacturer will not choose the remedy for you. If a repaired product fails again within three months in the circumstances described by section 56(3), the supplier must replace it or refund you as the CPA requires.
Warranty claims must be made within the warranty period. The warranty period begins on the date of delivery or collection. Please retain your proof of purchase (order confirmation or invoice) as this will be required to process any warranty claims.
Extended warranty options may be available for certain products at an additional cost. Extended warranties provide coverage beyond the standard manufacturer's warranty and may include additional benefits such as accidental damage protection. Terms and conditions of extended warranties will be provided at the time of purchase.
Non-AC Direct Installations (Fault Finding): You do not have to obtain or pay for a fault diagnosis before submitting a CPA product-defect claim for a product not installed by AC Direct. AC Direct may reasonably inspect the product and installation to determine the cause. AC Direct will bear the reasonable inspection, collection and return costs for a valid CPA product-defect claim. Customer fault-finding, call-out, labour, travel, or assessment costs may apply only if an inspection reasonably establishes that the fault was caused by the installation, site conditions, misuse, or another cause not covered by the CPA or an applicable express warranty. Any such cost must be reasonable, itemised, disclosed before non-statutory work proceeds, and permitted by law.
Battery, Solar & Inverter Specific Terms: All Solar, Battery & Inverter installations must be performed by a qualified electrician, and a valid Certificate of Compliance (COC) must be issued. Warranty conditions include:
AC Direct Warranty Protection Plans (Wall Splits & Pool Heat Pumps): The AC Direct Warranty Protection Plan is a service-based offering designed to help you comply with an additional manufacturer's warranty. It includes a scheduled major compliance service at 12 months from purchase. Failure to schedule that service may affect only an additional express-warranty claim and only to the extent allowed by law; it does not remove CPA rights. Labour costs for parts replaced during this service are covered in major metros only (Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town). Any call-out or travel fee for an outlying area must be disclosed and agreed before the service is booked.
AC Direct offers professional installation services for air conditioning units, heat pumps, and other products in select areas. Installation services are provided by qualified technicians who are trained and certified to install the products we sell. Installation availability and pricing will be confirmed at the time of purchase.
When you purchase installation services, a member of our team will contact you to schedule a convenient installation date and time. Please ensure that the installation site is accessible and prepared according to any instructions provided. The customer is responsible for ensuring that electrical supply and other infrastructure requirements are met.
Our installation service includes delivery of the product to the installation site, mounting and positioning of the unit, connection to electrical supply (where applicable), commissioning and testing of the unit, and basic instruction on operation. Installation does not include electrical work beyond the immediate connection point, structural modifications, or removal of existing equipment unless specifically agreed.
The customer must ensure that any necessary permissions or approvals (such as from landlords, body corporates, or local authorities) are obtained before installation. AC Direct is not responsible for delays or cancellations due to lack of required permissions or site access issues.
Installation is subject to a site assessment. If unforeseen site conditions or requirements not disclosed by the customer prevent completion, the installation may need to be rescheduled. Any additional work and charge will be explained and agreed before that work proceeds.
Products installed by AC Direct technicians carry a six-month workmanship warranty in addition to the product warranty and your statutory rights under the Consumer Protection Act. Nothing in these installation terms excludes a statutory right or remedy. Claims under the installation warranty should be directed to AC Direct customer service.
Website information is provided for general information. While we take reasonable steps to keep it accurate and current, availability, specifications, and non-material presentation details may change before a contract is formed.
To the extent permitted by law, AC Direct is not liable for indirect or consequential loss caused solely by use of general Website information. This limitation does not apply where the Consumer Protection Act or another law prohibits it, or to loss caused by AC Direct's gross negligence, wilful conduct, breach of a statutory duty, or other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
Through this Website you may be able to link to other websites which are not under the control of AC Direct. We have no control over the nature, content, and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
We do not promise that the Website will always be uninterrupted or error-free, but this does not limit remedies arising from a failure to use the standard of care required by applicable law.
Any exclusion or cap in these Terms applies only to the extent permitted by law. Nothing excludes or limits statutory rights or liability for gross negligence, wilful conduct, fraud, death or personal injury caused by negligence, defective goods where liability cannot be excluded, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be limited.
Your privacy is important to AC Direct. Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you use our Website. We process personal information on the lawful bases described in that policy; using the Website does not amount to consent where consent is legally required.
We collect personal information that you provide directly to us, such as your name, email address, postal address, phone number, and payment information when you create an account, place an order, or contact us. We also collect information automatically when you use our Website, including your IP address, browser type, device information, and browsing behavior.
We use your personal information to process your orders, communicate with you about your orders and our products, improve our Website and services, and send you marketing communications if you have opted in. We may also use your information to detect and prevent fraud, comply with legal obligations, and protect our rights and property.
We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We may share your information with service providers who assist us in operating our business, such as payment processors, delivery companies, installation partners, and marketing platforms. These providers are bound by confidentiality agreements and are only permitted to use your information for the purposes we specify.
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. We comply with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and other applicable data protection laws.
You have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal information. You may also object to the processing of your personal information or request that we restrict our processing. To exercise these rights or if you have any questions about our privacy practices, please contact us at info@acdirect.co.za.
AC Direct may amend these Terms prospectively by publishing a dated replacement. We will give reasonable notice of a material change where appropriate. An amendment will not affect contracts already formed unless you expressly agree to it or applicable law requires the change.
These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any disputes arising out of or related to these Terms or your use of the Website shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of South Africa.
If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of these Terms, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
The failure of AC Direct to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. Any waiver of any provision of these Terms will be effective only if in writing and signed by AC Direct.
These Terms and the information incorporated into an accepted order record the agreement between you and AC Direct regarding that transaction. This clause does not exclude a representation, implied term, warranty, or statutory right that applicable law does not permit us to exclude.
You may not assign, transfer, or sublicense any or all of your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent. AC Direct may assign, transfer, or delegate any of its rights and obligations under these Terms without your consent. For any questions or concerns regarding these Terms, please contact us at info@acdirect.co.za or call our customer service helpline.