Are you a consumer? You cannot say no to this I bet!! Because we are humans and we need to buy food, clothes, gadgets, jewellery, etc. in order to live our lives. As consumers, we have some rights as encapsulated under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. While you do have genuine rights, are there any responsibilities as well? Are you duty bound to act in a certain way as a consumer to avail your rights? Basically, as a consumer, what are your responsibilities or duties? Here, we have listed down the consumer responsibilities which decide whether you succeed in taking action against the infringement of your rights as a consumer or not.
What is my responsibility as a consumer?
As a consumer, what are your responsibilities or duties which can help avoid any loss and help make an informed decision is a must know for all. Thus, we have compiled the express and implied consumer responsibilities as per the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 hereunder:
- Informed Decision
A consumer should always research about the various options available in the market for the goods or services they are looking for. They should be informed about the specific qualities through product details or reviews so that intelligent and informed choices can be made. Comparison is the key for making informed decisions as an aware consumer.
- Standardised Goods
The Government has set some standards for particular and major goods or services, as the case may be. Thus, as a consumer, it is your responsibility to only buy standardised goods which signify quality assurance. For example, while buying electrical goods, one should check the Indian Standards Institution – ISI mark; while buying food products, one should look for Food Products Order – FPO mark and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India – FSSAI mark; while buying jewellery, look for BIS hallmark.
- Risk Evaluation
Whenever a consumer buys a product or hires services, they are responsible for being aware of the risks associated with such goods or services. It is a consumer’s responsibility or duty to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturers in order to use the products safely. Even in case of services, instructions should be duly followed. It is recommended to read the labels carefully in order to be informed about the product price, net weight, date of manufacture as well as the date of expiry, etc.
This can be understood with examples that a pack of hair colour usually instructs to test the same with a skin patch and not to directly apply on hair. The reason for such a caution is the possibility of someone being allergic to the chemicals used in the hair colour. If a consumer skips on following such risks involved and ends up being harmed due to skin allergy, they are themselves responsible for the negligent outcome and not the manufacturer of hair colour.
- Advertisement Cautious
Marketers have the right to advertise their products, provided that they are not misleading. They have a tempting effect to prompt the consumers to buy their products. Now, it is upon you as a consumer as to whether you should buy the product or not. Consumers should not get swayed away based on advertisements. They should apply their mind and understand that an air freshener may be good enough to discard any bad smell, but it lacks any super powers to blast the room with roses. That part is only for entertainment purposes.
- Fair Deal
It is the consumer’s responsibility to have a better deal while buying products and services. Here again, the task of comparison comes handy for the consumers. So if you are in a grocery store where one company is promoting its products and giving a 50% off, which you happened to ignore and bought competitor’s product for same quality, price and weight, you cannot complain that the competitor company cheated upon you since the other company was providing the same products at a 50% discount. It is a consumer’s duty to compare the goods and prices and making an informed decision for a fair deal.
- Discourage Unscrupulous Practices
As a consumer, what are your responsibilities which can help protect interests under the Consumer Protection Act is to avoid any unscrupulous practices. It is your duty as a consumer to choose only from legal goods and services. It is also the responsibility of consumers to discourage unscrupulous practices such as hoarding, black-marketing of products and services which are meant for quick gains while compromising laws.
- Receipts
Whenever you pay for any product or service, do not forget to take the cash memo or receipt of the same. This serves as a proof of purchasing a specific product from a particular business or manufacturer on a given date, as the case may be. In case of further deficiency of goods or services or any infringement of your consumer rights, the said receipt serves as a proof of you being the actual consumer.
- Consumer Complaint
As a consumer, it is your responsibility to complain about deficiency in service or any issue with the quality of goods so purchased. The cost of such goods or services should not be the deciding factor for whether to pursue consumer complaints or not. Thus, even if it is a Re 1 candy or Rs 1000 food order, if your consumer rights have been affected, you must raise your voice.
- Educate Others
As a consumer, if you are aware of your rights and also about the goods you buy or services you avail, you should also educate others about the same. There could be formation of consumer societies which could play a crucial part in educating consumers and safeguarding interests of consumers at large.
