Page 4 - Consumer Protection

Govt seeks public input on draft guidelines to curb online 'dark patterns'

The draft guidelines, accessible on the Department of Consumer Affairs website, seek public feedback within a 30-day period until October 5

Amazon Ring to pay $5.8 mn over unlawfully accessing consumer videos

California-based Ring, which was purchased by Amazon in February 2018, sells internet-connected, video-enabled home security cameras, doorbells, and related accessories and services

Quality gets better market, need to change mindset about quality: Goyal

Asserting that quality gets better market, Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday stressed the need to change the country's mindset about the quality of products and services. Addressing the 44th plenary meeting of International Standard Organisation (ISO) Technical Committee on Consumer Policy, Goyal said, "Quality is not an abstract term. Quality is not for goods alone but how you provide service. Quality is omnipresent." "Quality is what consumers are demanding today. Good quality can have an influence on our economy, ability to attract investments, international trade...," he said. Consumer right, consumer safety and consumer satisfaction are extremely important in this highly globalised world, he said and noted consumers can play a crucial role in shaping markets and driving economic growth. Stating that India has a great opportunity to become the world's third-largest economy in the next 4-5 years, the Minister said young population, huge talent and skill deploym

Suppression of key facts can lead to claim rejection

The National Commission concluded the claim had been rightly rejected on grounds of misrepresentation in the proposal form and breach of duty to maintain good faith

Delhi consumer grievances redressal: Upload pics of products, bills via app

Consumers in Delhi can now upload the pictures of a product, bill and other items via a new app to lodge a complaint on legal violations committed by a shop or an establishment with the city's weights and measures department. The app -- "Maaptol Grievance" -- has recently been developed and is available on Google Playstore. The app aims to facilitate the online registration and time-bound redressal of consumer grievances related to the Legal Metrology Act and the rules framed thereunder, officials said on Sunday. The complainant has to mention in the relevant fields of the software application his or her name and mobile number and the complete name and address of the shop or establishment where a violation of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and the rules framed thereunder has been found, they said. In relevant cases, the complainant may upload photographs of the product related to the complaint and the bill, a senior official added. The application will ask a complainant or consumer i

As courts get strict on contract reading, customers must be wary

Consumer courts offer a simple and cost-effective avenue for addressing these issues

Norms for celebrity endorsements carry the weight of law: Rohit Kumar Singh

'We are working to modernise the grievance redress mechanism and bring it up to international standards'

Builder paid for breach of contract by buyer

The National Commission noted that the agreement provided for a refund of money, along with interest, but the purchasers had never sought refund

WTO: India seeks views on consumer protection in e-commerce sector

Also calls for greater cooperation among enforcement agencies of member countries

It's time for evangelising fintech governance

New-age lenders reached out to new segments that were largely overlooked and unaddressed, even as more customers turned to them for their need for niche products and convenience

States to set up district-wise price monitoring centre for essential items

A senior government official indicated that the Center is making every effort to manage the prices of basic commodities through the Price Monitoring Division

Six airlines to issue $622 mn in passenger refunds: US transportation dept

The actions helped ensure the carriers paid required refunds "to hundreds of thousands of passengers who had their flights canceled or significantly changed"

CCPA fines Cloudtail with Rs 1 Lakh for not complying with BIS standards

Central Consumer Protection Authority directs Cloudtail to recall and reimburse the prices of 1,033 pressure cookers sold to consumers and submit a compliance report in 45 days

E-commerce firms again top list of sectors with maximum consumer grievance

Centre plans Lok Adalats to dispose of pending cases in consumer commissions

'Right to Repair': Soon, consumers & third-party vendors may fix products

Committee identifies farming equipment, cell phones, consumer durables among sectors for policy

Uber gets into damage control with the story of a changed company post 2017

Uber's comment on an ICIJ report on the manner in which it flouted local rules to build its business is revealing as it seeks to wash its hands off the management's deeds pre-2017

District Collectors to ensure enforcement of service charge norms: CCPA

Upon receiving related complaints, the District Collector may conduct investigation pertaining to violation of the guidelines and submit the report to the authority within 15 days, said CCPA.

Hotels and restaurants can't levy service charge by default, says CCPA

The hotels have to clearly inform the consumer that paying the service charge is at the consumer's discretion, the CCPA said

Google executive warns against sharing of citizen data, even if anonymized

India in February published a draft data policy for public consultation saying all data collected, stored by government ministries and departments will be open and shareable barring exceptions

LocalCircles asks MoCA for standard after sales service for white goods

In its letter it has asked for publishing end of life service date on every white good/device, stipulated response time for complaint answering, issue resolution, resolution process