Consumer Protection

Consumer protection: Delivery platform liable for shortfall in quantity

Section 4(10) of the Consumer Protection (ECommerce) Rules, 2020, casts an obligation on the e-commerce service provider to provide a replacement or refund in case of deficiency in service

Study finds widespread 'dark patterns' in India's ride-hailing apps

Forced cancellations, hidden fees and manipulative prompts plague users as survey shows eight in ten riders report deceptive design practices

Your credit is easier to steal than your money: How online lending works

A simple 'Buy now, pay later' click can trigger a full loan without consent. Weak verification, no alerts, and instant disbursals are fuelling identity fraud in India's digital lending ecosystem

Consumer protection: Criminal acquittal no ground to deny insurance payout

The National Commission observed that the acquittal of the accused due to lack of evidence could not, by itself, lead to the presumption that no theft had occurred

Consumer protection: Any legal heir can pursue case after consumer's demise

The Delhi High Court emphasised that the Consumer Protection Act must be construed liberally: it permits a remote-degree legal heir or any family member to file a complaint

Consumer protection: Seller equally liable for any defective product

The District Commission pointed out that under consumer law, the seller is equally accountable for ensuring that the buyer receives a defect-free product

Time to rethink India's quality standard system and its framework

A 2016 amendment to the BIS Act broadened the government's authority to mandate compliance with compulsory standards

CCPA imposes ₹10 lakh fine on Rapido for misleading auto service claims

The CCPA stated that Rapido made misleading claims in its promotional campaigns, including "Guaranteed Auto" and "AUTO IN 5 MIN OR GET ₹50", which were not substantiated

Consumer protection: Bank held liable for changing policy without consent

The State Commission allowed the complaint and directed the bank and the insurer to be jointly and severally liable for compensating the loss, along with interest at 10 per cent

Consumer protection: No manufacturing defect, no liability on carmaker

The National Commission in A1 Fauz International vs Audi India & Another held that the airbags failed to deploy not due to manufacturing defect, but because the truck did not have rear protection

Consumer protection: Expert opinion crucial for replacing defective vehicle

Any defect identified by the expert would have to be rectified within one month, failing which compensation of ₹5,000 per day would be payable

CCPA's advisory on dark patterns sent to over 50 online platforms

Platforms including Amazon, Flipkart, Zomato and Paytm asked to eliminate dark patterns and complete self-audits within three months as per 2020 e-commerce rules

Consumer protection: Insurer must prove, not infer, pre-existing ailments

The State Commission noted it could not be inferred from the medical certificate that these ailments were present when the policyholder purchased the policies

RBI plans guidelines to curb mis-selling of financial products in FY26

As complaints rise, RBI will frame rules in FY26 to curb mis-selling of financial products by banks and NBFCs, with possible impact on insurers' banca channels

Uber gets CCPA notice for asking users to tip in advance for quicker rides

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi slammed Uber's practice as unethical and exploitative, while the consumer protection body issued a notice to the cab aggregator over the move

Consumer protection: Legal heir, not nominee, is beneficiary of policy

The high court held that the Insurance Act, a general law, must yield to the Succession Act, a special law that governs the rights of legal heirs

Consumer protection: Aggregator liable for driver's failure to turn up

The State Commission held that though Uber functions as a cab aggregator, it should ensure timely and reliable delivery of services offered through its platform

Consumer protection: Manufacturer held liable for defective hip implant

The National Consumer Commission exonerated the doctor and the hospital but found DePuy and Johnson & Johnson liable for the defective implant

Trump admin orders Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to stop work

The Trump administration has ordered the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to stop nearly all its work, effectively shutting down an agency that was created to protect consumers after the 2008 financial crisis and subprime mortgage-lending scandal. Russell Vought, the newly installed director of the Office of Management and Budget, directed the CFPB in a Saturday night email confirmed by The Associated Press stop work on proposed rules, to suspend the effective dates on any rules that were finalised but not yet effective, and to stop investigative work and not begin any new investigations. The agency has been a target of conservatives since President Barack Obama pushed to include it in the 2010 financial reform legislation that followed the 2007-2008 financial crisis. The email also ordered the bureau to cease all supervision and examination activity. Since the CFPB is a creation of Congress, it would require a separate act of Congress to formally eliminate it. But the head of

Consumer protection: Hotel to face action over swimming pool death

The National Commission concluded that the absence of the attendant and the failure to attempt rescue and revive Neeraj constituted a breach of duty and negligence