If you have lived for sometime in India, unfortunately you would also have had an outrageous experience at some time or the other with a business that seems to think its only purpose is to get your money just this once. And then they are free to do what they like with it.
A hospital cripples a patient admitted for a minor operation, used/display models are passed on as ’’new’’ to unsuspecting customers, ’’no returns/refunds/exchanges’’ policy, banks taking their own sweet time to process loans or return your original papers, tour operators ’’taking you for a ride’’, the computer course institute that delivers rock bottom education at sky high prices.
Have you wondered why these cheats get away with this? There are several institutions and NGOs that work towards safeguarding consumer rights.
Ineffective you say? The bane of Consumer movement (or for that matter any mass movement) in India has been our unwillingness to do anything practical to strengthen existing institutions, while at the same time deriding them for being ineffective.
The internet is fast shaping up as a medium for consumers looking for information on where and how to complain. One such group that seeks to act as a reference to such information is Consumer_Voice_India on YahooGroups.
This forum intends to allow you to share your experiences with others and protect your friend from approaching the same swindler next time. Your message stays on the archives until the business resolves your dispute, pressuring the business to resolve the dispute. The message archives are public and you can become a member to access the links to Buying Guides and Consumer Interest Organizations (did you know the cases decided by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission</A> can be viewed online at https://consumercom.nic.in?).
The group has on board representatives of the media, consumer right organizations, lawyers etc. and advice flows quickly and backed with experience.
As its member, I have found this group to be of immense value and invite you to try it out.