Consumer court asks Reliance Fresh store to pay for charging extra on 3 packets of cookies
Charging a rupee above the maximum retail price (MRP) for a packet of cookies has cost a retail store dearly.
A consumer court asked it to pay Rs. 7,000 to a buyer as compensation and costs. Acting on a complaint, the district consumer forum ordered the store to pay the amount within six weeks, and said that otherwise the amount would carry an interest of 9 per cent until the day the payment was made.
The consumer, C. Chandrasekaran, had purchased three packets of Unibic butter cookies for Rs. 39 — each packet being billed at Rs. 13, from Reliance Fresh, Villivakkam. After buying the product, he looked at the cover and found the maximum retail price marked was Rs. 12 per packet.
In his complaint before the district consumer forum, he said the retail store had collected one rupee extra per packet. When he asked the store staff to refund the amount, they refused.
He also said he had sent a letter asking the retail store to refund the excess amount and to refrain from selling products at higher prices.
Further, he said, the same biscuits were being sold by other shopkeepers at Rs. 11 per packet. To substantiate this, he attached a bill issued by another store.
Even after receiving the notice, the retail store failed to appear.
After perusing the bills and proof provided by complainant, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (North) comprising its president R. Mohandoss and member A. Dayalan said, “The complainant established the unfair trade practice, negligence and deficiency in service on the part of the opposite party. The retail store had resorted to unfair trade practice of selling the product at higher price than the actual maximum retail price printed in the packet of the product.”
The forum directed the retail store to pay the complainant Rs. 7,003 – towards the excess amount charged (Rs. 3), Rs.5,000 as compensation and Rs. 2,000 as costs.
Keywords: District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, consumers' compensation, Reliance Fresh retail stores, maximum retail price
Aren't we paying more than MRP while buying snacks in airports? So is
that actually allowed OR should we complain to consumer court?
A very good step taken by the consumer and the consumer court. Though
the matter could have very well be solved by the retailer itself, his
refusal has highlighted the matter to the public, all for the good.
Well, if one looks at the prices at which biscuits, juices, snacks,
etc., are sold at the shops inside CMBT, the above case
becomes very small. Though many who have purchased eatable items
inside CMBT are unhappy about the abnormally higher rates above MRP
,I don't think anyone would have come forward to make a complaint, as
these are usually sold without bills. Moreover, on the verge of
boarding a bus, this may seem insignificant. I hope someone takes it
up seriously and paves the way for a solution to this.
Consumer awareness is very much needed at anytime. Good job done. Hope
this sets a very good example to other retailers. The other such product
under this overpricing is soft drinks.
Great to see consumers get the service they are promised at the cost
they are promised. Let this be a reminder to all the super markets that
they are not auto drivers to fleece customers at their will.:)
Aavin Milk at their own Booths is sold above MRP and when we ask they
say that they buy the milk from the dealers and charge Re1 more and sell
at 14/Sachet.
Excellent move by the court.
This is very common in my place bordering Rajastan, where all the milk sellers they charge Re. 1/- extra for every 500 ml Saras packet.
but it's all cash transaction and difficult to prove.
All the shops in bus terminus sell at above MRP prices. Who is going to account for all this? Hope the government sets up a ombudsman to monitor all shops.
The news paper should also publish the date of filing the complaint and the date of judgment by the court. This is because the consumer has to run around nearly 2-3 years to get his relief
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