Kohima, September 14 (MExN): The Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) today highlighted the guidelines of Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) for all the concerned under KMC jurisdiction to prevent unfair trade practices and protection of consumer interest with regard to levy of service charge in hotels and restaurants.
A notification in this regard was issued by KMC Administrator T, Lanusenla Longkumer in pursuance of Kohima deputy commissioner earlier letter dated August 31, 2022. This is for information of all the concerned to comply with, Longkumer added.
The guidelines shall be in addition to and shall not in derogation of the guidelines dated 21. 04. 2017 published by the Department of Consumers Affairs.
If any consumer finds that a hotel or restaurant is levying service charge in violation of the guidelines, a consumer may make a request to the concerned hotel or restaurant to remove service charge from the bill amount.
The consumer can lodge a complaint against on the National Consumer Helpline, which works as alternate dispute redressal mechanism at the pre-litigation level by calling 1915 or through the NCH mobile app.
One can also file a complaint against unfair trade practice with the consumer commission. The complaint can also be filed electronically trough e- daakhil portal for its speedy and effective redressal.
The consumer can also submit a complaint to the District Collector of the concerned district for investigation and subsequent proceeding by the CCPA. The complaint may also be sent to the CCPA by email.
Guidelines:
• No hotel or restaurant shall add service charge automatically or by default in the bill
• Service charge shall not be collected from consumers by any other name
• No hotel or restaurant shall force a consumer to pay service charge and shall clearly inform the consumer that service charge is voluntary, optional and at consumer discretion
• No restriction on entry or provision of services based on collection of service charge shall be imposed on consumers
• Service charge shall not be collected by adding it along with the food bill and levying GST on the total amount.
