A complaint 1 about a product or service can be filed by 2 a number of persons under the law, such as: People who buy goods or use services for themselves or for their own work in exchange for a payment. 3 For example, if a person takes an Uber cab to work, they are aRead more
Every person has a right to file the following types of consumer complaints under consumer protection law: E-commerce complaints “E-commerce” means buying or selling goods or services (including digital products) over digital or electronic networks1. It includes the production, distribution, marketing, sale or delivery of goods and services by electronic means 2. E-commerce entities, suchRead more
Mediation1 is an out-of-court settlement where the parties can decide the manner of the proceedings. It helps the speedy settlement of disputes. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 has introduced the provision where the relevant Commission can refer a consumer dispute for mediation, when there is a scope of settlement between the parties2. However, parties toRead more
Every complaint1 filed under the consumer protection law must be accompanied with a nominal fee that is payable in the form of a demand draft of a nationalized bank or through a postal order2, or in electronic form3. The fee structure based on the value of goods or services is given below4: Fee payableRead more
The Central Consumer Protection Authority has the power to penalize an individual or entity for violating consumer rights. This is ensured through various means such as fines, taking back the defective goods1, reimbursements for such goods/services2, or discontinuation of unfair trade practices3. Punishments for false or misleading advertisements The manufacturer, advertiser or endorser is liableRead more
Consumers who are unaware of their rights are vulnerable to the marketplace. It is vital for consumers to be aware of their rights so that they can make choices confidently, and with due regard to their interests. Consumer Rights include, but are not limited to, the following ((Consumer Rights, Department of Consumer Affairs, accessed atRead more
Consumers can also complain against unfair trade practices involving digital and other products bought through e-commerce platforms and retailers. Any person who owns, operates or manages any digital or electronic platform offering goods or services for sale, is an e-commerce entity. An e-commerce entity is separately governed by e-commerce rules1 in India. These rules areRead more
Product liability refers to the responsibility of the product manufacturer or seller to compensate for the harm caused to the customer due to a defect in the product or deficiency in service1. The harm caused can include issues such as personal injury, mental distress, death, damage to property, breach of contract, etc2. For example, ifRead more
Public utility services are facilities provided by the Government, which are essential to a citizen’s needs. For instance, these services include, the supply of water to homes, supply of electricity, the postal system, the banking system, railways, etc. The consumer protection law enables consumers to file complaints about these public utility services. Examples of publicRead more
A complaint1 can be filed electronically to the Integrated Grievance Redressal Mechanism portal (INGRAM), or offline with the consumer protection authorities such as district or state commissions to seek relief for consumer rights violations. Further there are helplines as well as phone based applications one can use to register complaints. If the complaint is not resolved,Read more
Goods include anything other than money, that is manufactured or produced for consumption by people1. As per the consumer protection law, goods refer to all movable property, including food.2 Based on how a good is used, there are two types of goods: Capital goods: Capital goods are used to produce other goods and services. For example,Read more
Given below are the details and functions of all the consumer protection authorities: Central Consumer Protection Authority1 The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) aims to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers collectively. The CCPA is empowered to: Conduct investigations into violation of consumer rights and start prosecutions on complaints received. Order recall ofRead more
Service means any activity made available to people, and it can include facilities related to banking, financing, insurance, transport, processing, provision of electrical or other energy, telecom, boarding or lodging, housing construction, entertainment, amusement or the relay of news or other information1. ‘Services’ include any activities carried out by one person for another, in returnRead more
Consumers are people who 1 buy and use goods or services. Consumers have a right to file a complaint for any of the services or goods used by them: Person buying and using goods and services A consumer includes any person who buys goods and services, as well as anyone who uses them. For instance,Read more
The overall objective of the Consumer Welfare Fund(CWF) is to provide financial assistance to promote and protect the welfare of the consumers and strengthen the consumer movement in the country1. There are certain rules in place which govern the use of the CWF. Some of them are2: Consumer awareness projects with wide coverage and adoptingRead more
The consumer protection law specifies relevant authorities and complaint forums1 that a consumer can approach if their rights2 as a consumer are violated. There are three Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions, at the district3, state4, and national level5. All these forums have the duty to hear the concern of a consumer and ensure that every concern is givenRead more
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