Consumer Protection Act is a Dead Letter

In course of preparing our cover story on Nepalese consumers, we came across many governmental, non-governmental agencies that directly or indirectly claim to look after the interests of the general consumers.

We also came across the cross section of the society who threw a volley of questions/complaints at us on matters related with consumer rights. Admittedly, we journalists, supposedly to be one of the most enlightened section of the Nepalese intelligentsia, miserably failed to give a satisfactory answer to their queries. Therefore, we decided to pass the buck asked to us by the Nepalese consumers to the relevant authorities, whosoever, for reply. Some of their complaints out of the seemingly never ending list are:

- The kerosene oil sold at fair price is mixed with other liquid.

- The grocer sells adulterated masalas.

- The electricity department man didn’t turn up this month but claimed he had.

- The telephone bill is inflated.

- The chemist sells substandard medicines.

- The services in the banks are poor.

- The buses overcharge and do not issue tickets at all.

- The TV set or CD player purchased gives trouble.

- In spite of being within warranty period, the seller/ manufacturer does not care for repairing the same.

- The office-goers complaint that the buses do not start on time.

- The court is unnecessarily delaying my case due to which my expenses are rising.

- The taxi driver charges more than the fare shown by the meter.

- The cloth merchant sold cloth at higher rate.

- The grocers do not display rates at their shops and over charge.

- The school charges fees even for those services which they do not render.

- Sewage system has failed although we pay sewage charge.

- Full water is not supplied by water authorities.

- Irregular voltage is being supplied by electricity office resulting in damage of electric appliances.

- Dr. – – misdiagnosed me and did unrequired surgery and spoilt my life forever.

- The gas cylinder was not full.

...And this list is really a long one. Of course there is a "Consumer Protection Act" which everyone says is a dead letter from the very start.

Is any concerned authority listening?

Send your feedback to the editor: bizage@ecomail.com.np
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