Consumer Voice :: ConsumerLaw

CONSUMER LAW & RIGHTS

Limitation Period to file a complaint

The District Forum, the State Commission or the National commission shall not admit a complaint unless it is filled within 2yrs from the date on which the cause of action has arisen.

Guide to self-protection

While buying costly durable consumer goods like refrigerators or while paying electricity, insurance premium or phone bill always pay by a crossed A/c payee cheque, on the reverse of the cheque, write your name and the details of the payments.

In the event of receiving a reminder to pay bill, which has already been settled, cheque the bank pass book to ensure that the cheque has been encashed. After giving the particulars of the payment, if the demand still persists for the purpose, get a photocopy of the cheque (both sides) as proof from the bank your payment will be traced.

Cash Memo

Always take a cash memo for every major purchase, and even for small items such as medicines cosmetics, food items etc. etc. it is proof in case of any complain to be made either to the vender or to the consumer court. The practice of foregoing a cash memo just to save sales from that you can save few rupees, without cash memo you can't file your case in the court, because the cash memo helps you in your fight for your rights as a consumer in other ways too, remember the tax is paid to the government to provide people with the basic infrastructure for a civilised life.

Guarantee/Warranty

A guarantee is issued against any manufacturing defect and a warranty is an assurance of a proper performance. When buying any consumer product like on fridge get a guarantee/warranty card with a stamp of the shop and the date. Fill it in and post it to the manufacturer. Retain a photocopy. For electric items 'see if the items bears an ISI mark issued by the bureau of Indian standards (BIS) In case of a defective items, if the seller does not agree to put the unit back in working condition or replace if it is totally defective, consumer can invoke the third party guarantee. A complaint can be made to the BIS, which has offices in many places. Recently BIS has launched a scheme for the interest of the consumers who are going for purchasing a gold, the scheme is called Hallmarking and consumer can get right quality of gold. BIS has set standards for manufactured items to ensure that the consumer gets quality products.

Consumer Protection Act of 1986 (COPRA)

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The best thing that has been done to strengthen the consumer movement in India is the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 (COPRA) that consists of 14 pieces with countless statutory notifications and orders to protect the rights of consumers.

The three-tier redressal machinery provided under COPRA has given relief to consumers from the overburdened, procedure-ridden and time-consuming judicial process.

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