When it comes to complaining about the faults and imperfections in a product or service, most of the Indian consumers do not act quickly or rather do not act at all. This gives the service provider or the seller scope to repeat the same mistake and more and more consumers keep on facing the same problem.
Earlier, whenever the consumers were faced with such a situation they had no other option but to go to the regular civil or district court, and make a complaint. This mostly happened when the money involved was quite huge. But the consumers refrained from going to the court for small and petty issues as the whole process is time taking and requires good amount of cash at hand. In addition, this problem was not only confined to Indian consumers. The whole consumers across the globe were going through the same situation.
Understanding this plight of the consumers, UNESCO decided to take up a stand, came up with special rules for the rights of the consumers in 1983 and directed its member nations to come up with a non-profit organization in their own country.
Formation of consumer forum
In India, it took some time to take shape but ultimately the Consumer Protection Act came into existence in 1986. Under this act, a quasi-judicial body was introduced with its presence at district, state and central level. The consumer forum is a district level body of this organization, which takes care of all the consumer disputes at the district level.
Earlier the consumer used to shy away from approaching the court against the consumer because the procedure was too tedious and many times the money involved was much more than the actual investment in the product or the service. That is why; the whole process of consumer forum has been kept simple.
Filing complaints at the consumer forum
Any common person without the knowledge of legalities can fulfill the process of filing complaints at the consumer forum. If you are confident then, you can represent the case yourself without any help of advocate or legal advisor.
For making a compliant all you need to do is write an application stating your complaint against the service provider or the seller on a piece of paper. You are not required to submit complicated legal documents. However, for supporting your compliant you should attach cash memo or receipt of purchase, agreement copy or copy of contract (in case of real estate or insurance, etc.), warranty card, guarantee card copy and whatever supports the authenticity of your complaint.
Terms for submitting the complaint
It is important that the complaint be within two years from the date of purchase of the product or the service. You can complaint against all types of products you have purchased for your own use or for gifting. Along with the application, you have to pay a nominal fee in the form of demand draft or postal order addressed to the President of Consumer Forum. The fee is usually very low and charged according to the investment in the product or service.
Earlier, whenever the consumers were faced with such a situation they had no other option but to go to the regular civil or district court, and make a complaint. This mostly happened when the money involved was quite huge. But the consumers refrained from going to the court for small and petty issues as the whole process is time taking and requires good amount of cash at hand. In addition, this problem was not only confined to Indian consumers. The whole consumers across the globe were going through the same situation.
Understanding this plight of the consumers, UNESCO decided to take up a stand, came up with special rules for the rights of the consumers in 1983 and directed its member nations to come up with a non-profit organization in their own country.
Formation of consumer forum
In India, it took some time to take shape but ultimately the Consumer Protection Act came into existence in 1986. Under this act, a quasi-judicial body was introduced with its presence at district, state and central level. The consumer forum is a district level body of this organization, which takes care of all the consumer disputes at the district level.
Earlier the consumer used to shy away from approaching the court against the consumer because the procedure was too tedious and many times the money involved was much more than the actual investment in the product or the service. That is why; the whole process of consumer forum has been kept simple.
Filing complaints at the consumer forum
Any common person without the knowledge of legalities can fulfill the process of filing complaints at the consumer forum. If you are confident then, you can represent the case yourself without any help of advocate or legal advisor.
For making a compliant all you need to do is write an application stating your complaint against the service provider or the seller on a piece of paper. You are not required to submit complicated legal documents. However, for supporting your compliant you should attach cash memo or receipt of purchase, agreement copy or copy of contract (in case of real estate or insurance, etc.), warranty card, guarantee card copy and whatever supports the authenticity of your complaint.
Terms for submitting the complaint
It is important that the complaint be within two years from the date of purchase of the product or the service. You can complaint against all types of products you have purchased for your own use or for gifting. Along with the application, you have to pay a nominal fee in the form of demand draft or postal order addressed to the President of Consumer Forum. The fee is usually very low and charged according to the investment in the product or service.
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