Know Your Consumer Rights
Are you a Consumer?
You are a ‘consumer’ under the Consumer Protection Act if you buy any goods or services for a consideration. However, if you buy it for resale or commercial purposes you are not a consumer under Consumer Protection Act.
Statutory Rights of consumers:
The Consumer Protection Act, 1986, guarantees the following statutory rights to the consumers:
Right to safety
Right to be Informed
Right to choose
Right to be heard
Right to seek redressal
Right to consumer education
Above all, consumer's strongest and the most precious right, which he keeps to the last, is the 'refusal to buy' and withdraw the patronage from the seller, who does not honour the rights of Consumers.
What to do if the product that you have bought is defective?
You should immediately bring it to the notice of the shopkeeper and ask him to replace it.
If he does not act, take up the issue with the manufacturer of that product.
If this step also does not yield desired result, you may approach Consumer Forum.
There is a District Forum in each and every district of the country.
You can file your complaint with the District Forum if the value of the product or claim of compensation is upto Rs 20 lakhs. Most of the products and services will fall in this category.
If the value is above Rs 20 lakh and upto Rs 1 crore, you will have to approach the State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, which has been set up in each and every State.
National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, popularly known as National Commission has jurisdiction over all claims above Rs one crore. It is located in New Delhi.
Complaint can be registered within 2 years from the date on which the cause of action has arisen. Lawyers are not necessary. There is nominal fee for filing complaint.
Appeal Provision:
If you are not satisfied with the orders issued by the District Forum, you can file appeal petition before State Commission. Similarly, appeal against the orders issued by the State Commission goes to the National Commission and from the National Commission to the Supreme Court. The time limit within which the appeal should be filed is 30 days from the date of the decision in all cases. more
Are you a Consumer?
You are a ‘consumer’ under the Consumer Protection Act if you buy any goods or services for a consideration. However, if you buy it for resale or commercial purposes you are not a consumer under Consumer Protection Act.
Statutory Rights of consumers:
The Consumer Protection Act, 1986, guarantees the following statutory rights to the consumers:
Right to safety
Right to be Informed
Right to choose
Right to be heard
Right to seek redressal
Right to consumer education
Above all, consumer's strongest and the most precious right, which he keeps to the last, is the 'refusal to buy' and withdraw the patronage from the seller, who does not honour the rights of Consumers.
What to do if the product that you have bought is defective?
You should immediately bring it to the notice of the shopkeeper and ask him to replace it.
If he does not act, take up the issue with the manufacturer of that product.
If this step also does not yield desired result, you may approach Consumer Forum.
There is a District Forum in each and every district of the country.
You can file your complaint with the District Forum if the value of the product or claim of compensation is upto Rs 20 lakhs. Most of the products and services will fall in this category.
If the value is above Rs 20 lakh and upto Rs 1 crore, you will have to approach the State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, which has been set up in each and every State.
National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, popularly known as National Commission has jurisdiction over all claims above Rs one crore. It is located in New Delhi.
Complaint can be registered within 2 years from the date on which the cause of action has arisen. Lawyers are not necessary. There is nominal fee for filing complaint.
Appeal Provision:
If you are not satisfied with the orders issued by the District Forum, you can file appeal petition before State Commission. Similarly, appeal against the orders issued by the State Commission goes to the National Commission and from the National Commission to the Supreme Court. The time limit within which the appeal should be filed is 30 days from the date of the decision in all cases. more
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View all 47 comments Below 47 comments
I hope all will agree that the consumer courts are also taking lot of time for disposal of the case, like that of judiciary, for which the main purpose is defeated. more
Feb 26
There are umpteen ACTS & LAWS, but where is the timely delivery or even implemetation system????? more
Feb 03
When the Supreme Court has stated that even a letter id sufficient for being treated as a PIL, there is no reason why a simple letter stating facts of matter cannot constitute a filing of Consumer Complaint in any forum. As no one knows better than the suffering consumer as to what is endured, why should there be any necessity for any lawyer at all? In fact representation by lawyers must be banned in Consumer Disputes. The entire proceedings must be brought out of all legal tangles and made quasi-judicial with all fora at district, state and National levels made free of judges and lawyers totally. Proceedings can simply move in lines of arbitration at all levels with strict time frames that should be made inflexible at all stages. What is required of all so called Consumer Help groups is to collectively change the rules under the Act to make them really work for the "aam aadmi" at all stages. Till then we shall continue to live with the farce that we have today in the name of Cinsumer Protection. more
Jan 17
The main proof of purchase is receipt and invoice clearly stating the description, Serial no, model no, product brand, manufacturers' name and price paid and in case of warranty the period of warranty applicable. We avoid getting an invoice to save taxes and invite trouble later on. more
Jan 17
We see in all blogs people writing about this is your right, that is your right etc. But the big problem comes when someone needs to be guided to get his right and that is not available. There are too many advisory roles, but not on the ground help and guide to fight the wrong. I too have many complaints, but on one case Jago Grahak - consumer conexion - took it up, till date not heard in spite of reminders. We need on the ground people who can actually help the masses. more
Jan 16
