Consumer Protection Test - 34

Regional integration, such as the European Union's consumer protection directives, ensures harmonized standards and regulations across member states, fostering trust and confidence among consumers. This collaboration enables efficient enforcement of consumer rights in cross-border transactions, addressing issues like product safety and fair trade practices. Consequently, regional integration plays a vital role in safeguarding consumer interests and promoting economic stability within integrated markets.

As per the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 a complaint can be filed in: 

• District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (DCDRF): If the value of the claim is upto 20 lakh.
• State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC): If the value of the claim exceeds 20 lakhs but is within one crore.

The social responsibility of business is based on service motive as it is expected to provide good quality service for the welfare of society rather than just maximizing profit on the cost of service.

Social responsibility of business is based on Trusteeship Theory as it is expected from the business to act as a trustee of the people's trust and belief and look after the betterment of the people in general.

Consumers who have complaints about products or services have a 'right to be heard'.

For example: A consumer bought a bike helmet from a sporting goods store. After wearing the helmet a few times, the consumer finds that the chinstrap keeps coming loose. Then the consumer have the right to let the store know you are not satisfied with the helmet. Businesses rely on customer satisfaction. The purpose of the customer service department is to listen to the concerns of customers.

Right to Seek Redressal is a right against unfair trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers. It also includes the right to fair settlement of the genuine grievances of the consumer. Consumers must make complaints for their genuine grievances. Many a time their complaint may be of small value but its impact on the society as a whole may be very large. They can also take the help of consumer organisations in seeking redressal of their grievances.

The "Right to be assured" ensures that consumers have access to a variety of products at competitive prices, allowing them the freedom to choose from a wide range of options based on quality, brand, price, size, etc.

To be safe for marketing of goods dangerous to life, is what the consumer is not entitled to under the Consumer Protection Act. While the Consumer Protection Act aims to safeguard consumers' interests and ensure fair treatment in the marketplace, it does not guarantee that goods dangerous to life will be marketed safely. Instead, the Act focuses on providing consumers with the right to information, education, protection from damage caused by defective products, and avenues for seeking redress in cases of unfair trade practices or deficiencies in goods or services. Therefore, consumers should exercise caution when purchasing potentially hazardous products and be informed about their rights and available recourse under the law.

Naina and her family sought redressal for the inconvenience and financial loss they experienced due to the airline's actions. The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC) provided a resolution by asking the airline company to compensate them with ₹50,000, thus fulfilling their right to seek redressal for grievances against a product or service.

The Sale of Goods Act, 2000 is not a legal protection to consumers given by India.

The Indian legal framework consists of a number of regulations that provide protection to consumers. Some of these regulations are as under:

• The Consumer Protection Act, 1986
• The Indian Contract Act, 1872
• The Essential Commodities Act, 1955
• The Trade Marks Act, 1999
• The Competition Act, 2002

Bureau of Indian Standards is not working for the customers:

The standards and the certification scheme of BIS other than benefitting the customers and enterprise additionally help diverse public guidelines, particularly in regions of product safety, client protection, meals safety, surroundings protection, constructing and construction, etc.