Your Legal Rights And Duties As A Consumer

Are you sure that you know everything about your legal rights as a consumer? Do you agree that it is important to be aware of them since the knowledge might be useful in many ways? I go to the supermarket daily to buy my favorite sweets, so I am curious about my legal rights and duties as a consumer! If you’re like me, please read on!

Legal right to safety

It means that you have the right to be protected against marketing goods and services that are hazardous to your life and property. The purchased goods and services should meet your immediate needs and fulfill your long-term interests. Also, before purchasing, you should be aware of the quality and the guarantees of the products and services.

Legal right to choose

This is the right to be assured, wherever possible, of access to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices. In the case of monopolies, you have the right to satisfactory quality and service at a fair price. This also includes the right to basic goods and services.

Legal right to be informed

This is the right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard, and price of goods so as to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices. You should insist on getting all the information about the product or service before making a choice or a decision. This will enable you to act wisely and responsibly and also avoid becoming a victim of high-pressure selling techniques.

Legal right to consumer education

This is the right to acquire the knowledge and skill to be an informed consumer throughout life. Consumer ignorance, particularly that of rural consumers, is the main cause for them getting exploited by unscrupulous salespeople. Hence, you should know your rights, and you must exercise them. Only then can real consumer protection be achieved successfully

Legal right to be heard

This one states that your interests should receive due consideration at appropriate forums. It also includes the right to be represented in various forums of consumer welfare. You can also form non-political and non-commercial consumer organizations, which can be represented in various committees formed by the Government and other bodies.

Legal right to seek redress

This is the right to seek redress against unfair trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers. It also includes the right to fair settlement of genuine grievances. Often, a complaint can be of small monetary value, but its impact on society can be very big. You can also seek help from consumer organizations when looking for a redress of your grievances. Consumer forums, set up under this Act, can order the company to take the following actions:

• Correct deficiencies in the product.

• Repair defects free of charge.

• Replace products with alternatives.

• Issue a full refund of the price

• Pay compensation for damages or inconveniences

• Withdraw the sale of the product altogether

• Discontinue or not repeat any unfair trade practice.

• Issue corrective advertisement for any misrepresentation.

Your duties as a consumer

Ask Yourself

• Have you faced any problems as a consumer?

• Have you ever complained when you have had problems?

• Do you know that you could seek the assistance of a consumer group to protect your interests?

Be critically aware

• The responsibility is to be more alert and to question the prices, quantity, and quality of goods and services.

Be involved

• The responsibility is to be assertive and to ensure that you get a fair deal as a consumer. Remember, if you are passive, you are likely to be exploited.

Be organized

• The responsibility is to cooperate and develop strength and influence to promote and protect your interest.

Practice sustainable consumption

• The responsibility to be aware of the impact of your consumption on other citizens, especially the disadvantaged or powerless groups, and also to consume based on your needs and not wants.

Be responsible for the environment

• The responsibility is to be aware of and understand our consumption’s environmental consequences. We should recognize our individual and social responsibility to conserve natural resources and protect the earth for future generations.

As you now know your rights and responsibilities as a consumer, you can rest reassured! Please do not forget to share your comments below!