Grahakjago (S.K.Virmani)©

Poor dining service at Le Chef Restaurants in Sector 37 Faridabad viz-a-viz charging of service charges by Restaurants and Hotels Department of Consumer Affairs has brought out a press release advising Restaurants and Hotels not to charge service charge compulsorily into the food bill and waive off the same if the diners do not wish to pay. The ground realities seems to be different specially in view of various media reports. I have also stated in my various posts in this blog that the Restaurants have been adapting to unethical business practices in charging service charge compulsorily and also wrong charging of VAT on 100% value of the food bill. I have visited a restaurant in Sector 37 Faridabad named Le Chef. The restaurant were earlier charging service charge by clubbing with the VAT thus misleading the diners. A bill is given below: As can be seen above that Le Chef charged VAT at the rate of 28.13% in their bill No. 1010 dtd. 29/05/2015. Over and above an amount of Rs....

Weather Department of Consumer Affairs is serious enough to address the unethical business practices  of charging service charges and VAT by Restaurants and Hotels Industry?  I have written an article titled "Are Restaurants and Hotels adapting to unfair business practices?" on this blog on 21st April 2015, the link of which is http://skvirmani-jagograhak.blogspot.in/2015/04/are-restaurant-and-hotels-adapting-to.html The said article stated importance of making service charges being charged by Restaurants in the form of tip need to be made optional and let it be left to the option of the diners whether to pay it or not to pay. Department of Consumer Affairs, Govt. of India has recently issued a press release No.  156064 which appeared in newspapers on 2nd January 2017. A copy of the press release is copied here for ready reference. Department of Consumer Affairs have advised Restaurants and Hotel Industry to make service charge as optional and to waive off t...

I have brought out an article titled "whether the Electricity DISCOMs in Delhi adapting to unethical business practices?" , the link of which is given below: http://skvirmani-jagograhak.blogspot.in/2016/07/whether-electricity-discoms-in-delhi.html While the issue has already been brought to the notice of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission and Ministry of Power of Govt. of Delhi, it is advised that all consumers of electricity in Delhi write a complaint by email to their respective DISCOM to flood their office with complaints. Even though the email ids are required to be stated in the back side of the electricity bills, for ready reference I am giving below the email IDs of the respective company where the complaint as per template given below can be mailed.                  DISCOM                                 ...

Why Indian Railways considering charging of insurance premium from passengers? It seems Indian Railways is considering introduction of a nominal fee for covering the risks against accidents and luggage. If we look at the past statistics, most of the accidents and stealing of luggage of passengers is due to the inefficiency of the railways. To an estimate, more than 80% of the accidents are occuring because of human failure. Similar is the view about luggage being stolen. The railways need to ensure that the travel by unathorised passengers (main cause of the stealing of luggage) do not travel in the reserved coaches. TTE has been failing in their duties to check on such lapses, the prominent being from the angle of corruption. Number of supporters of the present Government are making grounds for charging of nominal fee of Rs. 2/- per passenger as insurance premium to cover for such risks. Now the question comes as to why the passenger be made to pay for insurance premium. I...

Complaint on alleged Deceptive Trade Practices of BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd. An article titled "Whether Electricity DISCOMs in Delhi adapting to Unethical Business Practices?" was posted on this blog on 15th July 2016. A consumer has reported about the unethical business practices of BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd. (BRPL) resulting into financial loss due to excess billing amounting to Rs. 965/-. He was advised to raise the complaint before the company i.e BRPL. However, the consumer did not get any response.  However, the DISCOM reported their version against a tweet duly tagged to BSES. The response received from the DISCOM was analysed and found that the DISCOM is violating the regulations of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) on billing and since the bills are raised through the software, it is expected that all the consumers are being issued bills in violation of regulations of DERC. All the affected consumers irrespective of the amount (whether it is Rs....

Whether Electricity DISCOMs in Delhi adapting to Unethical Business Practices and why there is a silence by Delhi Government? The electricity in Delhi is being distributed to the consumers by: 1. BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd. 2. BSES Yamuna Power Ltd and  BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd- Sample Bill 3. Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd All these distribution companies are called prominently as DISCOMs. The DISCOMs are the first interface directly with the last mile stone i.e Consumer and these distribution companies are required to adhere to the regulations as laid down under Electricity Act, 2003. The distribution of electricity in the region of Delhi is being regulated by Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC). DERC frames the regulations through a process of consultation and open house discussions with an objective to keep the interest of the Consumers as utmost and ensures that these regulations are implemented.  Delhi has elected a Government which fought...

Why should DHBVN charge additional amount for making online payment/application for new connection?  Recently a news report was published in Navbharat Faridabad Times dtd. 13/06/2016 reporting that DHBVN (Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam) would be charging an additional amount of Rs. 50/- per application for online application for getting electricity connection. DHBVN has also been charging additional amount for making online payment of their electricity bills.  The author is of the opinion that such charging of additional amount as surcharge for onine application for electricity connection and online payment for electricity bills is ant-consumer practices as : 1. Online application reduces cost of service provider i.e DHBVN on account of stationary, engagement of manpower for interfacing with the consumer, data entry in computerising the application received besides stress on space and resources that may be due to personal visits of the applicant in case of ...