Common Consumer Problems Faced in Daily Life
In this article, we are discussing the common consumer issues/problems faced in daily life. Many consumers face problems/issues like poor service, defective products, overcharging, misleading advertisements, delays in delivery of products and denial of the refund amount or replacement. online shopping problems and face discounts, hidden charges and poor customer support. These types of problems cause financial loss and mental harassment to the consumers. Although the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, exists in India, many people are not aware of their rights. The present article aims to create awareness about the common consumers’ problems and help the consumer to understand how to protect their rights and take legal action when required.
If an e-commerce website product is not delivered
- When the consumer orders the products online and the same are not delivered, it is a deficiency in service. Firstly, the consumer should contact the e-commerce website through the email address or supporting app and raise the complaint with the order ID, proof of payment and delivery date. If the problem is not resolved within a reasonable time, the consumer can send a written legal notice to the company. If still unresolved the problems. The consumer can file the complaint before the Consumer Commission through e-jagriti.gov.in with physical filing. and attach the document with the consumer complaint, like the invoice, proof of payment, receipt and screenshot attached. and seek the compensation for the mental harassment and litigation cost.
How does the poor service affect the consumers
- The poor services have serious impact on the consumer in daily life and when the service provider delays the work, ignores complaints or gives incomplete services, consumers face many difficulties. First, it caused inconvenience because consumers have to make repeated calls, visits or follow-ups to get their problems solved as soon as possible but the consumer wastes valuable time and energy.
- The poor service often leads to the financial loss. The consumer may have to pay the extra charges or use alternative services or suffer losses due to the delay or faulty services. For example. (late delivery, poor repair works, extra charges, incomplete service, fake products, ignore the complaints etc.) and the poor services create the mental stress and frustration. when the complaints are not addressed properly and the consumer feels helpless and disappointed. Overall, the poor services lower consumer satisfaction and affect their daily routine.
Important point for the consumer. If the consumers are not satisfied with the service given by the service provider, the consumer can file the complaint before the Consumer Forum/Commission under the Consumer Protection Act. 2019
What should the consumer do if the consumer received the defective product?
- If the consumer received the defective product, the first step for the consumer is to contact the seller or service provider and inform them about the defective product. The consumer should keep the copy of the bill, warranty card and proof of product packaging as proof of purchase. Most issues can be resolved by requesting the replacement and repair of products or a refund of the amount within the warranty or returned period.
- If the seller does not respond or denies solving the issue/problems, the consumer can file the written complaint with the customer care of the company or grievance cell, and all the communication records should be safely preserved.
- When the problem is not resolved, the consumer has the right to file the complaint before the Consumer Commission (DCDRC, SCDRC, NCDRC under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019). The consumer can demand the refund of the amount, replacement of the products and compensation and damages for the mental harassment and financial loss.
Important Note:- The consumer must take action to help protect their rights and ensure the accountability of the seller or company.
Lack of awareness: most consumers do not know their legal rights.
- Many consumers are unaware of their legal rights because of a lack of information and awareness. Most people do not read the law or legal provisions related to the Consumer Protection Act. The consumers are not aware of the legal rights at the time of the purchases. They depend only on what the seller tells them.
- And another reason is that there is low awareness of the legal knowledge. The consumer laws are often seen as complicated. So the consumer avoids understanding the consumer laws and many people think that filing a complaint before the commission is very difficult/complicated and costly. Because of this fear, they choose to ignore small losses instead of taking action.
- The poor awareness programme also plays an important role in India and in many areas, especially rural and semi-urban regions, there are very few awareness campaigns about consumer rights, and in the schools, colleges also do not teach basic consumer law.
- The misleading sponsors/advertisements and false promises confuse the consumers and make them believe that they have no option if something goes wrong and the consumers also hesitate due to lack of confidence/awareness or fear of the harassment.
- and as a result, in India, many consumers suffer silently and do not exercise their rights; proper awareness and the education about basic consumer law are necessary to help the consumers understand and protect their rights
Important Note for the Consumer: The Consumer should visit e-jagriti.gov.in and ncdrc.nic.in, where complete information is available about the consumer’s rights. how to file the consumer complaints against the cheating seller and service providers and how to approach the consumer commission at the district, state and national commission levels.
The consumers should also watch the informative video on YouTube to update their basic knowledge about consumer rights and stay aware of the latest rules and procedures of the consumer courts/commission. This helps the consumer to take proper action and protect themselves from fraud and unfair trade practices.
Can the consumer file the complaint before the consumer commission without an advocate/lawyer?
Yes, the consumer can file the complaint themselves before the Consumer Commission without deputising/appointing an advocate. Here it is now.
- Every consumer has the right to represent themselves before the District Consumer, State Consumer or National Consumer Commission under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Deputation/hiring an advocate is optional, not mandatory.
- The consumer should write a clear and detailed consumer complaint and mention the problems, dates, parties involved and the relief or seek compensation request in the complaint properly.
- The consumer always attaches all the supporting documents, such as bills of payment, invoices, warranty cards, screenshots and correspondence with the seller/service providers. These help strengthen the complaint.
- The consumer can file the complaint online through e-jagriti.gov.in and submit it physically at the commission office.
- After filing the consumer complaint, the consumer will receive a case number and admission date of hearing. The consumer must attend the hearing and present their evidence before the commission.
- Legal support is optional. The consumer can file a complaint before the commission themselves, but if the issue is complex. The consumer should appoint an advocate. The advocate can assist the consumer at every stage, such as preparing the complaint and filing the complaint properly, submitting additional evidence, responding to the replies and presenting arguments effectively. If the consumer has some legal knowledge, they can handle the process themselves; otherwise, it is better to depute an advocate for filing the complaint.
Frequently Asked Question – FAQs
What should I do if an online order is not delivered?
- The consumer contacts the seller or e-commerce website through the email or customer care with proof of order and payment. If the issue is unresolved, send a legal notice and file a complaint with the consumer commission through e-jagriti.gov.in physically.
How does the poor service affect the consumer?
- The poor services cause inconvenience, financial loss and mental stress; delay, negligence and incomplete work; lower consumer satisfaction; and disturbance to the daily life of the consumer.
What should consumers do if they receive defective products?
- The consumer informs the seller and keeps all the bills related to the goods/services, and the consumer requests the replacement, repair or refund of the amount. If unresolved by the service provider/seller, then the consumer can file a complaint before the Consumer Commission and attach all supporting documents.
Can the consumer file the complaint without an advocate?
- Yes, consumers can file complaints before the District Commission, State Commission or National Commission themselves. Legal support is optional, but for the complex cases deputing an advocate is helpful.
How can consumers be aware of the legal rights?
- The consumer should visit e-jagriti.gov.in and ncdrc.nic.in for detailed guidance. Watching informative videos on YouTube can also help consumers stay updated about their rights and complaint procedures.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is only for general awareness and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Consumer law and procedures may change from time to time and vary based on the individual facts and circumstances. The readers are advised to verify the information from the official source, such as e-jagriti.gov.in and ncdrc.nic.in or consult with a qualified legal advocate/lawyer before taking any legal action. The author shall not be responsible for any loss or consequences arising from the use of this information.
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