2. What is Consumer Protection ?
Consumer : refers to any
individuals or households that
use goods and services
generated with in the economy.
Consumer Protection : a
concept that are designed to
ensure fair competition and the
free flow of truthful information in
the marketplace.
3. Contd…..
Consumer Protection laws :
laws designed to prevent businesses that
engage in fraud or specified unfair
practices from gaining and advantage over
competitors and provide additional
protection for the weak for those unable to
take care of themselves.
4. Ethics in Marketing in Consumer
Protection
Market is flooded with duplicate goods
having fake labels for selling drugs, food
stuffs, consumables like agarbatis, suparis
etc. followed by misleading advertisements.
This result in disrepute for the products of
good companies even though such fake
goods are small in quantities.
5. Contd….
Setting high ethical standard and
enforcing them reverses the position. If
Government notices such depletion of
ethical standard, rigid regulations are
brought in and are never withdrawn.
Marketing executives enjoy great amount
of social power in influencing the society.
6. Who is responsible for consumer
protection?
Responsibility of Business
Responsibility of Consumer
Responsibility of Government
7. Responsibility of Business
The business including producers and
traders have to due regard to consumer
rights as it is their social responsibility.
They have to come out with quality goods
at reasonable prices.
8. Responsibility of Consumer
All efforts regarding consumer protection
will not produce desired results if
consumerism is not accepted as a means
of asserting and enjoying their rights.
9. Responsibility of Government
Innocent and helpless consumers should
be protected by the Government through
enacting legislations. Government will
have to set its own priorities for the
protection consumer’s right.
10. Consumer Protection Act 1986
The act came in to effect first in December
24, 1986 after being passed by the
President of India. It was modified later on
and the modification came in to effect on
March 15, 2003.
The act is applicable in all States in
India except Jammu and Kashmir. The
acts makes provisions to include both
tangible goods and Intangible services
purchased from trader or service provider.
The act can apply to any consumer who
uses the product for non- commercial
activities.
11. Objectives of the Consumer
Protection Act,1986
Better protection of interests of consumer.
Protection of rights of consumers.
To prevent practices having adverse effect
on competition.
To promote and sustain competition on
market.
To protect the interests of consumers.
12. Scope of Consumer Protection
Applies to whole India.
Applies to all type of goods and services,
public utilities and public sector
undertakings.
All types of complaints relating to goods,
unfair trade pictures.
A suit pending in civil court cannot be
heard in consumer court.
13. Functions of a consumer
protection agency
Advise the government on consumer
issues
Represent the consumer interest in
other governmental committees
Enforce consumer protection and
competition law
Conduct market surveys and research
into consumer protection problems
Conduct product testing for safety and
quality
14. Who can file complaint ?
The consumer to whom the goods are sold
or delivered or agreed to be sold are
delivered or the service has been provided
or agreed to be provided.
Any recognized consumer protection,
regardless of whether the consumer is a
member of such association or not.
One or more consumer, where there are
numerous consumer having the same
interest with permission of the district forum
on behalf of or for the benefit of all consumer
so interested.
15. Conclusion
Consumer Protection provides for better
protection of the interest of consumer and
for that purpose to make provision for the
establishment of the consumer councils
and other authorities for settlement on
consumers disputes and for matters
connected there with.