The Centre emphasised the importance of informing consumers about the start of the warranty period when they purchase electronic appliances. They have urged electronic appliance manufacturing companies to follow global best practices in India. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), under the Department of Consumer Affairs, stressed that consumers should not have to discover the details of the warranty after purchasing the product.
"Consumer grievances relating to the warranty period must be addressed in a proactive and prompt manner," said Nidhi Khare, Chief Commissioner, CCPA.
The meeting was attended by representatives from major electronics appliance companies, including LG, Panasonic, Haier, Croma and Bosch, among others.
"Since warranty period as per the policies set by manufacturers commences from the purchase date, and not date of installation, there is a shortfall in the warranty period as consumers can only begin using the product after it has been installed on their premises," according to the CCPA.
As per the regulatory body, consumer rights, as defined under Section 2(9) of the Act, include the right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard, and price of goods, products, or services to protect consumers against unfair trade practices.
During the meeting, the possibility of using the date of installation as the starting point for calculating the warranty period was considered.
Furthermore, the meeting addressed the exploration of measures to prevent the abuse of this system and to ensure the adequate protection of consumer interests.
All companies have been requested to share their views within 15 days.
Meanwhile, the Indian government is planning to provide significant relief to telecom subscribers by releasing new draft guidelines through the Consumer Affairs Ministry. These guidelines aim to reduce the number of unsolicited business or commercial messages that many users in India receive regularly. The ministry has also addressed the issue of scams and fraud messages. Public comments on the draft guidelines are open until July 21.
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Inputs from IANS
