Indian Laws: On Purchasing Products within MRP

When you go shopping, do you ensure that you are charged within the Maximum Retail Price or MRP, or do you pay whatever the retailer asks you to? Well, if you are in the former category, you are on track; however, if you belong to the latter category, chances are you may have been overpaying. So, wake up, know your rights and exercise them!

Retailers may also trick consumers into paying over the MRP with clever offers such as “free home delivery.” What these retailers usually do is compensate for the extra cost by adding extra charges to the product price, and thus charging above the MRP. So, when you receive your goods, you may not cross check product prices, and thus end up paying more than what you should, while also believing that you are getting a great deal!

Here are some other reasons for consumers paying more than the MRP:

• Not aware that the retailer is charging more than the MRP
• Strike
• Limited supply of goods
• Misleading information by the retailer
• Unawareness about bargaining on MRP

Indian Laws: Conditions for Charging above MRP

If a retailer or service provider charges you more than MRP while providing home delivery service, do not pay him the extra money. Remember that if you are ordering stuff at home, you are not utilizing any service of the service provider. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered that consumers cannot be charged more than the MRP during home delivery services as they are not utilizing any service.  An extra amount can only be charged in restaurants where additional services are provided. So, consumers should be aware of their rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. These rights also enable the consumer to get back the extra money, along with the compensation.

Under the Indian Laws, the following provides consumer protection:

• Central Consumer Protection Council
• State Consumer Protection Council
• District Consumer Information Centre
• District Consumer Protection Council
• Consumer Complaint Cells of Business Chambers & Traders’ Associations

Indian Laws: How to File a complaint?

File a complaint on a plain paper, in triplicate, at the seller’s place to the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum within 2 years from the date of the cause of action.

You must mention the following information in the application form:

• Your name along with address
• Name along with address of the party against whom the complaint is being filed
• Description of goods or services
• The price charged
• Quantity purchased by you
• The date of purchase
• Any proof available of purchase
• Required type of redressal