The Ernakulam District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Kerala has stated that issuing substandard and unclear bills by traders and service providers on various products purchased by consumers amounted to ‘deficiency of service’ and ‘unfair trade practice’ as per the Consumer Protection Act.
The commission, comprising D.B. Binu, president, and members, including V. Ramachandran and Sreevidhia T.N., made the observation in its order dated November 27, 2023 on a complaint filed by a lawyer based in Ernakulam seeking compensation and action against a laptop manufacturing company for its refusal to replace a laptop which had developed technical issues within a few months of its purchase.
The commission found that the tax invoice bill dated December 16, 2020 for the product purchased from a retailer at Thripunithura was not legible. The bill, which was electronically-generated, was produced using inferior-quality ink on low-grade paper. The quality of printing was substandard, resulting in prints that were not clear or readable, it said.
