Eliminating the ambiguities surrounding it, the District Consumer Redressal Commission, Hyderabad has recently observed that a consumer has a right to know about additional cost incurred on carry bags prior to the purchase decision at shopping outlets.
“As a matter of Consumer rights, the consumer has the right to know that there will be an additional cost for carry bags and also to know the silent specifications and price of the carry bags, before he exercises his choice of patronizing a particular retail outlet before he makes his selection of goods for purchase from the said retail outlet,” the Commission stated in its order.
The Commission categorically stated that disclosure of price of carry bags at the payment counter will amount to unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 and 2019.
Moreover, the Commission said that selling of plastic bags, with company logos printed on it, is an unfair trade practice because it can act as using the customers for advertisements. It said that if there is a company logo printed on the carry bags then it should be provided free to the consumers.
On February 19, the Commision passed the significant observations while dealing with a complaint filed by Baglekar Akash Kumar under Section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act.
As per the order, the shopping outlets could charge the customers if they are providing plain carry bags without the company's logo but prior information should be given by displaying the price of carry bags inside the business premises.
