Consumer rights are generally a reference to a body of law that pertains to things the producers of goods must do to protect customers from harm. The Consumer Protection Act provides for five rights of consumers. The consumer protection councils set up under the Act are intended to promote and protect the various rights of consumers. These rights include the following:
Right to Safety: The customer has a right to be protected against goods and services which are dangerous to life and wellbeing. For instance, electrical appliances which are manufactured with substandard products or do not conform to the safety norms might cause serious injury.
Right to be Informed: The customer has a right to have absolute information about the product he intends to buy including its ingredients, date of produce, price, quantity, instructions for use, etc.
Right to Choose: The customer has the liberty to choose from a diversity of products at viable prices. This implies that the marketers should offer a wide variety of products in terms of quality, brand, prices, size, etc. and allow the customer to make a choice from surrounded by these.
Right to be Heard: The customer has a right to file a protest and to be heard in case of displeasure with a good or a service. It is because of this basis that many progressive business firms have set up their own customer service and complaint cells.
Right to Consumer Education: The customer has a right to obtain knowledge and to be a well informed customer throughout life. He should be conscious about his rights and the reliefs obtainable to him in case of a product or service falling short of his expectations. Many customer organizations and some progressive businesses are taking an energetic part in educating customers in this admiration.
