Consumer: A ‘consumer’ is usually understood as someone who uses or consumes goods or products of any service. Under the Consumer Protection Act, a consumer is defined as:
(a) Any person who buys any goods for a contemplation, which has been paid or promised, or partly paid and partly promised, or under any scheme of deferred payment. It includes any user of such goods, when such use is made with the endorsement of the buyer, but does not include a person who obtains goods for re-sale or any profitable reason
(b) Any person who hires or avails of any service, for a consideration which has been paid or promised, or partly paid and partly promised, or under any system of deferred payment. It includes any beneficiary of services when such services are availed of with the approval of the person concerned, but does not include a person who avails of such services for any commercial purpose.
Who can file a complaint:
A complaint before the appropriate consumer forum can be made by:
(i) Any customer;
(ii) Any registered consumers’ organization;
(iii) The Central Government or any State Government;
(iv) One or more consumers, on behalf of numerous consumers having the same interest etc.
