CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT 1986

CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT,1986

KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, 1986



The Consumer Protection Act, 1986, was enacted to provide a simpler and quicker redressal to consumer grievances. The Act seeks to promote and protect the interest of consumers against deficiencies and defects in goods or services. It also seeks to secure the rights of a consumer against unfair trade practices, which may be practiced by manufacturers and traders.
The agenda of a consumer forum is to provide relief to both parties and discourage long litigation. In a process called 'informal adjudication', forum officials mediate between the two parties and urge compromise.The Act applies to all goods and services unless specifically exempted by the Union Government and covers all sectors, whether private, public, or cooperative.

OBJECTIVE:-

1.This Act  provides a machinery whereby consumers can file their complaints. These complaints will then be heard by consumer forums with special powers so that action can be taken against erring suppliers 

2. compensation is awarded to the consumer for the hardships he/she has undergone

3. Lengthy court litigation has been replaced with with simple procedures as compared to the normal courts, which helps in quicker redressal of grievances

4.The consumer, under this law, is not required to deposit huge court fees, which earlier used to deter consumers from approaching the courts

5.The provisions of the Act are compensatory in nature.

6.consumer courts provide redress only in cases of products or services for personal use; defects in products used for commercial purposes are not entertained.

RIGHTS OF CONSUMERS:-

1.Right to be protected against marketing of goods and services that are hazardous to life and property
2.Right to be informed about the quality, quantity, standard, and price of goods or services so as to 3.protect the consumer against unfair trade practices
4.Right to receive assured access, wherever possible, to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices
5.Right to be heard and to be assured that consumers interests will receive due consideration at appropriate forums.
6.Right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices.
7.Right to consumer education

CONSUMER REDRESSAL FORUM

1.DISTRICT LEVEL-District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (DCDRF):Subject to the other provisions of this Act, the District Forum shall have jurisdiction to entertain complaints where the value of the goods or services and the compensation, if any, claimed does not exceed rupees twenty lakhs.
2.STATE LEVEL-  State Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (SCDRF):complaints where the value of the goods or services and compensation, if any, claimed exceeds rupees twenty lakhs but does not exceed rupees one crore (R10 million); 

3.NATIONAL LEVEL-National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) Established by the Central Government.It deals with matters of more than  One crore (10 million).

PROCEDURE OF FILING COMPLAINT:-

1.The complaint should be filed within two years of buying the product or using the service
2.It needs to be in writing. Letters should be sent by registered post, hand-delivered, email, or fax. Do not forget to take an acknowledgment
3.The complaint should mention the name and address of the complainant and the person/entity against whom the complaint is being filed. Copies of relevant documents must be enclosed
4.The consumer must mention details of the problem and the demand on the company for redressal. 5.This could be a replacement of the product, removal of defect(s), refund, or compensation for expenses incurred, and for physical/mental torture. The claims, however, need to be reasonable
6.You should preserve all bills, receipts, and proof of correspondence related to the case. Avoid using voice mail or telephone because such interactions are normally difficult to prove
7.The complaint can be in any Indian language, but it is better to use English
8.Maintain a complete record of the emails and documents sent and received.