Consumer Rights In India: Why Consumer Awareness Is Important

It is important to be transparent and honest with consumers as they are the barometer of a marketing campaign's success or failure. These days, it seems like everyone is out to make a profit. The consumer is often the one who has to shoulder the burden until they realise what's happening and take measures to protect themselves. This can be done by providing them with complete information about the good or service that is being sold as well as consumer rights and responsibilities. Increasing consumer awareness will help prevent consumers from falling prey to any unscrupulous acts like shady marketing schemes!

Why is Consumer Awareness Important?

In business, the customer is the most significant factor. Consumer happiness is the primary goal of all business operations, hence no firm can thrive without them.
Business is about more than simply making money; it's also about improving society as a whole by focusing on its well-being.
The act of promoting the rights of consumers allows an open marketplace that can facilitate economic growth. It prevents businesses from carrying out malicious practices designed to damage fair trade.
Consumers are an important part of any market structure - but if left unprotected, they can be exposed to unscrupulous market players who can take advantage of them.

Consumer Rights & Responsibilities

Consumer Rights Protection was introduced in 1986 to ensure that consumers were protected against unscrupulous business practices. The act aims to fight against the exploitation of consumers and was introduced to ensure that the interests of buyers were kept safe.

1. Right to Safety:

This is a basic right to be protected against the sale of products or services that can potentially harm their health or cause property damage. In order to protect consumers from the dangers of unsafe goods and services, companies must sell high-quality, reliable items. For instance, some dangerous household items include non-sealed gas cylinders which can lead to severe damage to property as well as lives if they explode. Also, stale food if bought and consumed by a consumer can have harmful effects on that person's health and wellbeing - which is why it is important for sellers delivering food products to ensure their deliveries are fresh.

2. Right to Information:

Customers have the right to seek out and acquire information about the quality, quantity, potency, standard, and price of goods or services. Customers should rightfully ask for such information before making a choice or decision. This will enable them to make well-informed and thoughtful decisions, which will, in turn, make customers feel safer when engaging with salespeople who may try to pressure customers into making spur-of-the-moment decisions. As customers grow informed and trust in their choices through access to information and knowledge, they can better protect themselves from unwanted practices.

3. Right to Choose:

Consumers like to choose their own goods and services. In a monopolistic market, the product or service provided should be of the best quality, and at a good price. The seller shouldn't make use of aggressive strategies to sell the product. Alternatives like substitute products should also be present for the consumer to make an informed purchase.

4. Right to be Heard:

The aforementioned three rights are meaningless if there is no one to listen to customer complaints. If a buyer is unsatisfied with a product or service, he or she has the right to make a complaint, which must be answered within a certain time limit. For example, if a buyer purchases an electronic product and it begins to malfunction, the consumer has the legal right to return or replace it.

5. Right to Redressal:

The Right to Redressal has many added benefits. For one, consumers have the authority to settle claims and complaints against sellers with regard to unfair trade practices or exploitative tactics. As far as the quality of products go, if a certain product or service offered by a seller is compromised or below reasonable standards then the buyer has every right to complain under the Right To Redressal allowing them to effectively eliminate exploitation geared towards only making a profit.

6. Right to Customer Education:

As a consumer, you have the right to be aware of your rights and responsibilities provided by law related to advertising and marketing practices. This is a very important legal right because this lets you know that you have control over the vital information as a buyer.

How can you be a Responsible Consumer?

Aware of Consumer Rights & Responsibilities:

A responsible consumer is one who understands all of his rights and duties during a commercial transaction. For instance, when making a transaction, the consumer should always demand a Cash Memo.

Inspect:

A customer who inspects all required product labels before purchasing in order to determine the authenticity and quality of the goods.

Crosscheck:

Customers should check for all of the standard certifications so as to assess the authenticity and quality of an item. ISI certification or Hallmark could be used to determine both of these factors.

Be firm:

As a consumer, you have the duty to be persistent in order to ensure that you get a reasonable deal.

Raise your voice:

It is your job as consumers to join hands and raise your voices; to fight and safeguard consumer interests.

For which reasons can you file a complaint?

Defective items that the complainant has previously purchased.
Adoption of unfair or prohibited trading practices by the service provider.
Failure in Services, whether hired or rented or promised to be hired or rented;
Overcharging of products or services
Overcharging is displayed on the packaging of items, or displayed on the price list shown.
Selling or proposing to sell hazardous products or services that endanger life and safety.

How can you file a complaint in the Consumer court?

The aggrieved customer can send a formal notice to the business owner, who can then communicate his/her intention of suing for damages incurred through either compensation or other means.
If the service provider is unwilling to offer compensation, you can contact your local state consumer protection agency to learn more about filing a formal complaint.
It's critical to have copies of any essential evidence and important documents that support your Consumer Court case.
Select the proper jurisdiction for submitting the complaint based on the pecuniary jurisdiction, which is determined based on the entire worth of goods and services purchased or obtained, as well as the amount of compensation requested.
The person who wishes to file a case with the Consumer Court must have an affidavit on hand which must state that the facts presented are true to their knowledge.

Conclusion

The primary focus of consumer awareness has been on ensuring that consumers are not taken advantage of by unscrupulous salespeople who sell them faulty or damaged goods but also focuses on ensuring that consumers don't get misled into purchasing a product from sellers. The consumer has a right to be informed about products they wish to purchase, and also a right to be treated fairly by the seller.

Also Read:

1) Difference Between Coaching And Mentoring [Explained]
2) Cheque Bounce Reasons [Know How To Avoid]
3) How To Start Dabur Distributorship? [Cost, Requirements]
4) Hindustan Unilever Distributorship Cost [Eligibility, Steps To Apply]

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FAQs

Q. Why is it critical to protect the interests of consumers?

Ans. It is critical to maintaining consumer attention, as this is the primary goal of any marketing communications. If there is no one to satisfy, there is no business.

Q. How do you spread awareness about consumer rights?

Ans. The enactment of the COPRA (Consumer Protection Act) has led to the establishment of separate departments of Consumer Affairs in both state and federal governments. The department's mandate is to protect consumers from unfair market ploys and fraudulent business practices and will also provide relevant information on how to file cases if you've been taken advantage of in any way, shape, or form.

Q. How does consumer awareness help our society?

Ans. Consumer knowledge is essential in order for a buyer to make the proper judgment and make the right option. Consumer awareness allows consumers to get a better price on things and removes their ignorance that a vendor frequently attempts to exploit it.

Q. What is Consumer Awareness Acknowledgement?

Ans. Consumer awareness acknowledgement is often defined as making the consumer aware of his or her rights and obligations.

Q. How do I File a Consumer Complaint in India?

Ans. Under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986, you can file a complaint.