Picture used for representational purpose only

CHANDIGARH: Big Bazaar hypermarket in Elante Mall has been fined Rs 11,500 for charging a customer Rs 18 for a carry bag.

The district consumer disputes redressal forum has directed the store to also refund the bag’s cost to complainant Sourav Kumar of Panchkula ’s Sector 15. Many other big-brand shops such as Bata, Lifestyle, Domino’s, and Westside have also paid big penalties for putting a price on carry bag. Sourav had visited Big Bazaar on February 21, where the billing clerk demanded Rs 18 for a cloth bag to carry the purchased articles. He resisted, on the ground that it was displayed nowhere in the shop that carry bags were chargeable.

Alleging deficiency in service and unfair trade practice on part of Big Bazaar, he filed a consumer complaint. In its reply, the company justified the price as displayed in its store. The company argued that it kept a range of chargeable shopping bags as well and the one Sourav had picked was displayed with price tag in a big poster. It also stated that the customer had agreed to the purchase.

The forum stated: “The store has failed to produce on record any cogent, convincing, and reliable piece of evidence in the shape of any rules or instructions that authorize it to levy an additional charge for the carry bag on gullible consumers. If the cashier informed the complainant just before billing, it amounts to unfair trade practice and deficiency in service, as it would have been very odd and inconvenient for the customer to carry new articles in hand throughout his trip to the mall. Charges for things such as cloth bag cannot be foisted separately upon consumers. If imposed, it would amount to overcharging.”

The consumer forum concluded that the company had taken the complainant and his fellow shoppers for a ride. It said: “Given that it has stores across the country, it must have made a lot of money in this manner. The pain and harassment left the complainant with no alternative but to move this forum. The company is penalized for causing him loss, mental agony, and physical harassment, and forcing him into litigation at the cost of his time and that of this forum.”

The company will have to pay Rs 1,500 as compensation to the complainant and deposit Rs 10,000 in the account of consumer legal aid service.

