"Charging price over and above market rate is adoption of unfair trade practice"
Consumer Forum Matter: Prafulla Kumar Dash v. Proprietor Goyal Printing Zone District Consumer Forum, Sambalpur (Orissa) Complaint No.63/2023 Allowed on 26.09.2023
Facts: 1. The Complainant had gone to the Xerox shop of the Opposite party for getting a page xeroxed on 28.04.2023 at 12.15 PM. 2. After the xerox he gave Rs.5/- & asked to return Rs.3/- 3. As the rate of photo copy is Rs. 2/- per page but the O.P. refused to return. 4. It is alleged by the complainant that if he is charging Rs.5/- than he should have given a receipt or bill and not giving the same amounts to unfair trade practice which is adopted by the Opposite Party. 5. It is submitted by the complainant that the behavior of the Opposite Party has caused mental agony, harassment, inconvenience apart from financial loss for which the OP is liable to compensate the Complainant. 6. Opposite party did not file any reply to the complaint served upon him.
Observation of the Consumer Forum
1. District Forum found that Opposite Party has not given any receipt or bill which is an unfair trade practice adopted by the OP. 2. Also, the Opposite Party is collecting excess money per photo copy as compare to Market rate. 3. Hence, the opposite party is deficient in service. 4. It is an exploitation to a consumer.
Order
1. The Opposite Party was directed to refund Rs. 3/- towards excess money received from the Complainant towards Xerox charges. 2. Rs. 25,000/- as compensation towards mental agony and harassment to the Complainant within 30 days from the date of order, failing which the amount will carry with 9% interest per annum till realization to the complainant.
Seema Bhatnagar
