'Unfair Trade Practice': Consumer Forum Directs Handbag Manufacturer To Cough Up ₹38K For Charging ₹20 For Carry Bag With Company Branding
A district consumer forum in Bandra directed handbag manufacturer ESBEDA to pay up over Rs. 38,000 for indulging in unfair trade practices after it charged a woman Rs 20 for a carry bag with its advertisement on it. ESBEDA ( Intouch Leather House Pvt Ltd) has been directed to pay Rs 13,000 of the amount to the complainant, Reema Chawla, Rs 20 refund for the carry bag and Rs....
A district consumer forum in Bandra directed handbag manufacturer ESBEDA to pay up over Rs. 38,000 for indulging in unfair trade practices after it charged a woman Rs 20 for a carry bag with its advertisement on it.
ESBEDA ( Intouch Leather House Pvt Ltd) has been directed to pay Rs 13,000 of the amount to the complainant, Reema Chawla, Rs 20 refund for the carry bag and Rs. 25,000 towards the consumer welfare fund.
A panel comprising chairman RG Wankhade and member SV Kalaal decided the matter ex-parte.
Calling the practice an exploitation of customers the forum said,
"When the customer comes to the shop to buy the goods, carry bags should be provided free of cost for carrying them. Charging extra for this amounts to unfair trade practice."
The complainant, Reema Chawla, a Business Process Outsourcing firm trainer had sought a total compensation of Rs 1,50,020 from the company, Intouch Leather House India Pvt Ltd.
Chawla said she had sent the company a legal notice, but later filed a case when she received no compensation.
In the past, consumer forums in Chandigarh have held companies including Bata and Lifestyle International Private Limited guilty of unfair trade practices for charging for bags with their advertisements printed on it.