Section 17 of CPA : Section 17: Complaints To Authorities

Explanation using Example

Imagine Sarah purchased a new smartphone from an online store after seeing an advertisement claiming the phone had a battery life of 48 hours. However, after using the phone, she discovered that the battery barely lasted for 12 hours, even with minimal use. Sarah felt that the advertisement was misleading and that it was a clear case of false advertising. To address this issue, she decided to take action not just for herself but for all consumers who might have been misled by the advertisement. She wrote a detailed complaint explaining how the advertisement was false and misleading and how it could potentially affect a large number of consumers who trusted the brand. Sarah sent this complaint via email to the District Collector's office, which is one of the authorities mentioned under Section 17 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The District Collector's office took cognizance of the complaint and initiated an investigation into the matter, which could potentially lead to the company being penalized for unfair trade practices.