CCPA says 85 complaints received after issuance of new guidelines on service charge; Collectors asked to take action

The top five cities in terms of service charge complaints registered between July 5-8 are — New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune and Ghaziabad.

As many as 85 complaints have been registered on the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) after new guidelines were issued on July 4 barring hotels and restaurants from levying service charge by default, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) said on July 9 and directed all district Collectors to take strict action against the violators.

The top five cities in terms of service charge complaints registered between July 5-8 are — New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune and Ghaziabad.

Consumer protection regulator CCPA has written to Chief Secretaries and district Collectors of States and Union Territories to ensure wide publicity of the new guidelines and take appropriate action against violators for protection of consumer interest, it added.

On July 4, the CCPA came out with the new guidelines barring hotels and restaurants from levying service charge automatically or by default in food bills. It also clearly stated what steps consumers can take in case of violation of the guidelines.

"From July 5 to July 8, 2022 i.e. after the guidelines were issued by CCPA, 85 complaints have been registered on NCH," the CCPA said in a statement.

About 18 complaints were received in New Delhi, 15 in Bengaluru, 11 in Mumbai, 4 in Pune and 3 complaints in Ghaziabad.