Consumer rights and responsibilities

Consumer rights under the Act:

• Right to safety: protection against goods that are hazardous to life and health (choose ISI-marked electrical appliances).
• Right to be informed: about quality, quantity, purity, price and ingredients, given on the label.
• Right to choose (the Act's words are 'right to be assured'): access to a variety of products at competitive prices.
• Right to be heard: to have complaints listened to; many firms set up grievance cells.
• Right to seek redressal: to get relief, such as replacement of a defective product, a refund, or compensation.
• Right to consumer education: to learn about one's rights.

Rights work only when consumers also take responsibilities:

• be aware of the goods and services available;
• buy standardised goods: ISI for electrical goods, FPO for food products, Hallmark for jewellery;
• read labels carefully, and follow the instructions for use;
• be assertive to get a fair deal, and be honest in dealings;
• ask for a cash memo (bill), which is proof of purchase;
• file a complaint when something is wrong, even if the amount is small;
• form consumer societies;
• respect the environment: avoid waste and pollution.