Solution for Cooling Charges on cold drinks

[It is recommended to read whole blog post before clicking any external link.]

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     Have you paid more than the MRP on a bottle of soft drink or milk as "cooling'' charges? Well, if the answer is yes, you are being cheated by shopkeepers. I have personally argued with many shopkeepers regarding extra charges on MRP. This issue specially comes with cold drinks where shopkeepers demand extra 2-4 Rs. on MRP for keeping drinks cool.

     Day by day, this problem is rounding over internet.  so, after deep search on forums and Government websites, I am here with solution.

What is Government Rule?

     When you buy soft drink from retail shopkeeper. Both of you are dealing according to Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977. 

     State Legal Metrology Department (LMD) protect the consumers' interest by surprise visits or inspections at Traders premises, packers, importers, packaging units and industries to verify the accuracy of weights and measures as well as to check the net contents effected by them.

     Ankush Dhanvijay, controller of LMD, says, "Many shopkeepers ask consumers to pay extra on cold drink bottles as cooling charges. But it is an offense to sell a packaged commodity, including cold drinks and milk bottles, at a price higher than their MRP's. As many people are not aware of the rules, the shopkeepers exploit them.''

     L M Musale, assistant controller of legal metrology, said, "Sale of anything above the  MRP is a crime as per Packaged Commodities Rules, 1977. If a complaint is registered, action will be taken against the law evaders. A fine of up to Rs 5,000 will be slapped against them. If two partners own the firm, then the fine amount will be doubled. The fine amount will increase if there are more owners."

Complaint registration against cooling charges:

     Legal metrology department launches helpline so that customers can register complaints against fraudulent sellers. For online complaint registration, click here [It is recommended to read whole blog post before filing complaint]

How to react after demand for cooling charge?

     If shopkeeper demands you for extra charges, you can follow one of the (or more than one) following method;

1. Be confident and ask him for meaning of MRP. 

     MRP literally means 'MAXIMUM Retail Price'. It is the maximum amount that can be taken by customer or such price at which the product shall be sold in retail including all taxes levied on the product.

2. Fight for right

     Generally, Shopkeeper says that company don't provide them cooling charges. This is not fact. Every companies, while deciding MRP, takes care of all inclusive expenses like cooling charges, storage charges, transportation charges. If shopkeeper deny to sell product then tell him that it is your right to buy product. Every shopkeeper is bound to sell his product to customer by the law.

3. Ask for receipt

     If shopkeeper don't turn his mind, pay for extra charges and take official receipt from him mentioning the actual amount you paid and product name. This will help you in future while lodging complaint against retail shop.

4. Be ready with local LMD officer contact no.

     Save your district LMD officer contact no. on your mobile phone. Click here to get contact list. [It is recommended to read whole blog post before filing complaint.]

5. Make online complaint:

     Take down name of offender, address of offender and lodge online complaint by clicking here. [It is recommended to read whole blog post before filing complaint.]

 

Practical case of fine:

1. Recently, the department took action against the Mutkangan restaurant on the Pune-Satara Highway under the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977, when a complaint was filed against the restaurant for levying cooling charges on ice cream. 

2. The district consumer disputes redressal forum in Bharuch, Gujarat, not only asked the seller to refund the excess amount of Rs 22 charged but also pay Rs 5,000 as compensation to the consumer and Rs 1,000 as costs.
 

Note:

     The rule does not apply to packaged products sold at restaurants, where the product is served and hence attracts, service charges.

SPREAD A WORD:

     After reading this post, you might come to the fact about Cooling charges, let your friends know about this illegal activity. Let them know their rights. SHARE this post on your social networks by using left pane floating buttons or below mentioned social networking buttons.