Big Bazaar fined Rs.11,518 by Consumer Forum for charging Rs.18 for cloth carry bag

October 19: After Bata and Dominos, now Big Bazaar was fined Rs.11,518 by a Consumer Forum for charging Rs.18 for a cloth carry bag. Saurav Kumar, who is a resident of Panchkula, filed a complaint with the Chandigarh State Consumer Disputes Redressal (SCDRC) Forum for charging customers Rs.18 for a cloth carry bag.

On hearing both the sides, the Consumer Forum ordered Big Bazaar has to deposit Rs 10,000 in the “Consumer Legal Aid Account” and to refund the complainant Rs 18 for the bag; Rs 1,000 as compensation for harassment and mental agony and Rs 500 as litigation expenses.

The consumer forum rejected Big Bazaar’s plea saying 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 Consumer Forum further said that costs of such things (cloth bags) cannot be separately foisted upon the consumers and would amount to overcharging.

It needs mention here that previously, the Chandigarh Consumer Forum has fined big brands for charging customers for a carry bags. Lifestyle was fined Rs 13000, Dominos Pizza Rs 10,500, Bata India Rs 11,000, and Westside was fined Rs 13,000 after they were found charging for carry bags.

Future Group’s Big Bazaar store at Silchar, Assam also charges its customers exorbitant price for the cloth carry bag. While the Chandigarh store charged the customers Rs.18 for the bags, Silchar Big Bazaar Charges Rs. 24 for the same cloth carry bags. Many consumers expressed their resentment at this at Silchar but none till now has approached the Consumer Forum for grievance redressal.