Representational picture from Pixabay
A month in the past, Saritha Kumar of Nungambakkam ordered a designer saree from an internet retailer. She paid the money of Rs 10,00zero on-line and waited for a month. The supply by no means reached her. Upon suspicion, when she learn critiques from different prospects on the shop’s Facebook web page, Saritha realised she had been cheated identical to many others earlier than her. She was shocked to know that even the shop’s tackle and telephone quantity have been invalid.
Had Saritha researched in regards to the retailer earlier than ordering the saree, she would have saved the cash. Either resulting from carelessness or ignorance, a lot of shoppers face comparable experiences as Saritha. That brings us to an vital query:
What are the duties of a consumer?
Select a store that has been in enterprise for a appreciable time frame.
Make certain you have full data concerning high quality and value earlier than making the acquisition.
Ensure you get the receipt, guarantee card, instruction guide and different literature from the shopkeeper. Also, in case of devices, or digital units, undergo the instruction guide rigorously. A receipt with a retailer’s seal can be a mandatory doc ought to a state of affairs come up where you want to file a authorized swimsuit.
In case of devices or digital items, be sure that the vendor has a service centre in your metropolis.
Before shopping for a product, please guarantee you have all details about the return/refund choices.
How can you complain?
According to the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, a consumer can lodge a complaint with the state Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission inside two years of buying a product / availing a service. Some corporations might specify a timeline in their refund or return insurance policies, however a senior advicate who offers with consumer circumstances stated, “The law prevails. The policy is internal to the company.”
For extra particulars on who can qualify as a consumer and the sorts of aid he might search, test this out.
Here is a simplified step-by-step information describing the process:
On noticing the defect in the commodity/service offered, the consumer has to strategy the involved organisation (Public or non-public) requesting for rectification/change of commodity / return of cash, in writing.
If you are sending a mail, write to the vendor and request them to revert inside 15 days. In the case of non-responsiveness or unsure reply, ahead the mail to the service centre and later to the producer.
Print out these emails and ship a publish to the involved events. (vendor, service supplier and producer). Do not miss to get the acknowledgement. It is a vital process as a result of if the involved events refuse to simply accept the publish and it’s returned to you, the publish can be an vital proof to submit in courtroom.
Call up the state consumer helpline (044 – 28592828) in the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Consumer Protection Department for assist. The name centre assistants can be found between 9-30 AM to 6-00 PM on all working days of Government of Tamil Nadu. They will assist you in submitting a complaint and forwarding it to the involved social gathering. Remember, a letter from a authorities physique can be efficient.
The ultimate step to battle exploitation you confronted as a consumer is to strategy the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. Check out the state fee’s web site to know who can file the complaint and the charges prescribed for the consumer.
It is vital to know the location of the reason for motion. For instance, if you have purchased the product in Chennai, you ought to complain in the Chennai District Redressal Forum, no matter where you are presently positioned.
It is vital to notice that the Indian Parliament gave its nod to a new Consumer Protection Act (handed in each homes) in August 2019, which supplies for a less complicated dispute decision course of, mediation and e-submitting of circumstances. Under the Act, the consumer will be capable to file circumstances in the closest fee underneath the jurisdiction of which he resides. However, this legislation is but to be notified by the central authorities.
Important factors of contact
Here are the addresses and phone particulars of the 2 District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forums (DCDRF) in Chennai:
Chennai North
044 – 25340083
chennai.north@gmail.com
Frazer Bridge Road, (Behind TNPSC), V.O.C. Nagar, Park Town – 600 003.
Chennai South
044 – 25340065
chennaisouth.dcdrf@gmail.com
Frazer Bridge Road, (Behind TNPSC), V.O.C. Nagar, Park Town – 600 003.
Do not hesitate to strategy the fee. “A lot of citizens are not comfortable to visit courts; hence the consumer court is called a commission and the judge is called the President,” stated T Sadagopan, President, Tamil Nadu Progressive Consumer Centre.
You can additionally strategy organisations engaged on consumer points for assist.
Consumers Association of India – 044 244 94575
Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group – 044 24660387
Tamil Nadu Progressive Consumer Centre – 9444220440
Know the legislation
You can be your individual lawyer in a consumer dispute case.
You can file the complaint on plain paper, together with these particulars:
Name and tackle of complainant and reverse social gathering
Date of buy and quantity paid
Particulars of the products/service
Explicitly point out the complaint – whether or not it’s about a defect in the product, an unfair commerce follow, charging above MRP, and so on
Documents to show your declare, like receipts and replica of communication with the dealer
Relief sought
Signature of complainant or authorised agent
At hearings, you can argue the case your self, or have an authorised individual/company – not essentially a lawyer – signify you. But even when you determine to battle it out your self, it’s higher to seek the advice of a authorized skilled on the outset, or an organisation engaged on consumer points.
