ITC Limited, an Indian conglomerate recently paid a Chennai-based resident a compensation of ₹1 Lakh for a pack of biscuits. The consumer bought a packet of 'SunFeast Marie Light' biscuits to feed stray dogs. While feeding the dogs, he found out that the pack had one less biscuit. He went to the local store for an explanation on the same but got no response.
How did he end up getting a compensation of a lakh for a regular pack of biscuits? Well, the consumer didn't stop and reached out the the brand ITC for an explanation. The event took place back in the year 2021.
The consumer identified as P Dillibabu in a report by Mint bought a pack of two biscuits in Manali. He found that one of the packets had only 15 biscuits while the pack stated that it had 16 biscuits. In his complaint, he pointed out that the brand cheated its customers by providing one less biscuit in each pack, eventually making a big profit of over ₹29 Lakh.
He mentioned that one biscuit cost ₹.75 and the brand was producing over 50 lakh packets each day. When the complaint reached the company, they stated that the packet mentioned the weight of the biscuits and not the total number of biscuits. While the weight stated on the pack was 76 grams, on weighing, it turned out that the pack was only 74 grams.
The consumer court then ordered ITC to pay a compensation of ₹1 Lakh to the consumer for practicing unfair trade and asked the brand to stop the sales of the said batch of biscuits.
Also watch this video
Don't Miss: 10 Women's Safety Rights You Need To Be Aware Of
As soon as this news was out, netizens flooded the news posts with comments sharing how they felt cheated by a lot of brands and taking inspiration from the incident would file a complaint with the consumer court. If you are one of those consumers, here is a quick guide for you to file a complaint at a consumer court.
The consumer court was established under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 to deal with complaints and grievances from consumers. A complaint can be made in the consumer court by consumers against sellers on the grounds of delivery of flawed goods and services and harassment.
Don't Miss: Constitutional Rights That Safeguard A Woman That You Must Know About
Step 1 - Send Notice To The Service Provider
Send a notice to the party providing the good or service. In the notice, mention the defects in the good or state the unfair practice. Sending a notice is the first step to settling the complaint without going to the consumer forum.
Step 2 - Draft Consumer Complaint
File a formal complaint under the Consumer Protection Act, of 1986. The complaint should have the name, address of the consumer, cause of action, remedy claimed, and signature and verification of the complainant.
Step 3 - Attach Relevant Documents
Along with the complaint, attach a copy of the bill, packaging of the product, or other record as proof.
Step 4 - Choose The Forum And Pay Court Fee
File the complaint at the appropriate consumer forum according to the jurisdiction and pay the fee along with your complaint file.
Step 5 - Get An Affidavit
Lastly, the complainant needs to submit an Affidavit in the court stating that all the statements presented are true.
The relief and remedy for each consumer complaint varies. It is a refund, replacement, or compensation in most cases.
Our aim is to provide accurate, safe and expert verified information through our articles and social media handles. The remedies, advice and tips mentioned here are for general information only. Please consult your expert before trying any kind of health, beauty, life hacks or astrology related tips. For any feedback or complaint, contact us at compliant_gro@jagrannewmedia.com.