The Consumer is a King-

Though the consumer is considered a king in a market place,  in reality, we often see consumers taken for a ride by Companies and service providers. Customers are cheated in many ways like defective and poor quality products, deficiency of service, etc., In most cases, consumers avoid raising a complaint against the companies and service providers due to a lack of awareness and the fear of cumbersome procedures.

What should I do?

At the first instance when you notice that the company has supplied defective or poor quality products or any service provider fails to provide satisfactory service, you should send an email complaint to the support service dept of the Company or the service provider explaining the details of the problems. In case they fail to resolve your problems, you could send an Email to the Chief of the Company. The Email IDs of the CEOs of most of the Companies are available on their website or through google search.

JAGO GRAHAK JAGO - CONSUMER HELPLINE.

In case the concerned companies do not resolve your complaint satisfactorily you could lodge your grievance through the National consumer helpline of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public distribution dept of consumer affairs, Govt of India. (https://consumerhelpline.gov.in). First-time users are required to register with the portal. The registered users can log in and submit their complaints. You are rest assured that your grievance is resolved by the  Company through this portal.

NATIONAL CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION

Consumer protection Act 2019 is an Act passed by the Government of India to protect the interests of consumers and, to establish authorities for the timely and effective administration and settlement of consumers' disputes. Under the CP Act National Consumer Disputes redressal, Commissions are set up in New Delhi, the State Commissions at the State Capital, and the District Commissions at the District Head Quarters. The general public can file their online complaint through the website of the NCDRC - Http://ncdrc.nic.in/. A similarly offline complaint could be filed before the respective commission depending on pecuniary the jurisdiction

Jurisdiction:

 (1) National Commission- Above Rs. Two Crores

(2) State Commission: Rs. 50 Lakhs up to Two Crores

(3) District Commission- up to Rs. 50 Lakhs

Under the consumer protection Act, the Consumer Commission is vested with the powers equivalent to a civil Court while trying a suit in respect of the following matters, namely:— (a) the summoning and enforcing the attendance of any defendant or witness and examining the witness on oath; (b) requiring the discovery and production of any document or other material object as evidence; (c) receiving of evidence on affidavits; (d) the requisitioning of the report of the concerned analysis or test from the appropriate laboratory or from any other relevant source; (e) issuing of commissions for the examination of any witness, or document. The Commission is also vested with the powers of a judicial magistrate for the trial of offences.

POINT TO BE NOTED.

Under section 69(1) of the consumer protection Act, the consumer is required to file their complaint within two years. Otherwise, the same will be barred by limitation. However, if the complainant satisfies the reasons for the delay, the commission can condone the delay.