Now Big Bazaar Gets Slapped With A Fine Of Rs 11,500 For Making Customers Pay For
The SCRDC has termed it as ‘deficiency in service’ and has levied a fine of Rs 11,518 on the retail chain. This all started when a customer, Saurav Kumar, a resident of Panchkula, filed a complaint with the Consumer Redressal dispute forum when he was charged Rs 18 for a carry bag.
Saurav lodged the complaint and it said that he had gone to Big Bazaar to purchase goods on February 21 and was asked to pay Rs 18 for a single carry bag. He objected to pay this price for the bag and told the cashier that he cannot be compelled to buy the same.
He subsequently approached the forum which then issued a notice to Big Bazaar. The store officials rubbished the allegation in its plea against the forum’s decision. The consumer forum, however, rejected Big Bazaar’s plea saying that it was not only carelessness but a deficiency in service.
"Big Bazaar owns a chain of stores throughout the country which are visited by the consumers in large numbers. Despite earning huge profits, innocent customers are being compelled to pay for carry bags by Big Bazaar. This is not just carelessness but a deficiency in services," the statement by SCDRC said.
The fine imposed on Big Bazaar includes the refund of carry bag charges- (Rs 500), compensation to the affected customers (Rs 500), legal expenses (Rs 500) and consumer legal aid fund (Rs 10,000).
Earlier, Domino's India was fined Rs 10,500, Lifestyle Rs 13,000, Westside Rs 13,000 and Bata India Rs 11,000 after they were found charging unreasonable money for carry bags.