NEW DELHI: The guarantee or guarantee period of newly bought white goods equivalent to TV, fridges, air conditioners and washing machines should start from the date of set up fairly than the date of buy, the shopper affairs ministry has mentioned in an advisory addressed to their producers and sellers. The ministry has urged them to revise the guarantee or guarantee coverage to embody this provision.
The ministry’s advisory comes in the course of the festive season, notably forward of Dhanteras and Diwali, when there may be spurt within the sale of shopper durables, together with the white goods.Sources mentioned the advisory was issued contemplating there have been a number of situations of delay or longer time taken in supply and set up of such merchandise. The supply and set up period is often longer in case of merchandise purchased by way of e-commerce entities.
In his letter to the producers and sellers, Union shopper affairs secretary, Rohit Kumar Singh mentioned that white goods usually contain set up by educated technicians, and till they’re appropriately put in on the premises, customers are unable to use such goods. “It is observed that this practice leads to a reduction in the total warranty period which a consumer would have normally enjoyed from the time he could use the product after its installation,” he mentioned.
Singh has additionally mentioned that initiating the guarantee or guarantee period when customers are unable to use the product constitutes an “unfair trade practice” beneath the Consumer Protection Act and “a contract imposing such terms which causes significant change in the rights of consumer is an unfair contract under the Act”.
The ministry has mentioned that because the festive season begins, there will probably be elevated footfall of customers available in the market and extra enterprise. The secretary has additionally referred to the decision given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Business 20 (B20) Summit for strengthening the belief between companies and customers whereas urging the companies to shift their focus to ‘consumer care’, which can allow computerized decision of many points associated to shopper rights.
The PM had additionally mentioned {that a} worthwhile market may be sustained when there’s a stability within the pursuits of producers and customers.
The ministry’s advisory comes in the course of the festive season, notably forward of Dhanteras and Diwali, when there may be spurt within the sale of shopper durables, together with the white goods.Sources mentioned the advisory was issued contemplating there have been a number of situations of delay or longer time taken in supply and set up of such merchandise. The supply and set up period is often longer in case of merchandise purchased by way of e-commerce entities.
In his letter to the producers and sellers, Union shopper affairs secretary, Rohit Kumar Singh mentioned that white goods usually contain set up by educated technicians, and till they’re appropriately put in on the premises, customers are unable to use such goods. “It is observed that this practice leads to a reduction in the total warranty period which a consumer would have normally enjoyed from the time he could use the product after its installation,” he mentioned.
Singh has additionally mentioned that initiating the guarantee or guarantee period when customers are unable to use the product constitutes an “unfair trade practice” beneath the Consumer Protection Act and “a contract imposing such terms which causes significant change in the rights of consumer is an unfair contract under the Act”.
The ministry has mentioned that because the festive season begins, there will probably be elevated footfall of customers available in the market and extra enterprise. The secretary has additionally referred to the decision given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Business 20 (B20) Summit for strengthening the belief between companies and customers whereas urging the companies to shift their focus to ‘consumer care’, which can allow computerized decision of many points associated to shopper rights.
The PM had additionally mentioned {that a} worthwhile market may be sustained when there’s a stability within the pursuits of producers and customers.
