‘LPG charge’ not legal, will invite action, CCPA warns eateries | India News
New Delhi: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on Wednesday warned hotels and restaurants against levying additional charges on food bills under headings like “LPG charge,” “gas surcharge,” and “fuel cost recovery”.The authority has issued an advisory invoking the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act observing that such charges are being levied by default to circumvent the existing guidelines on service charges. It said no such charges would be levied automatically and warned that violations could invite “severe action” as it constituted “unfair trade practices”.The CCPA said complaints received by the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) and media reports show that certain hotels and restaurants are defaulting on consumer bills with such charges above the food and beverage prices displayed on the menu and applicable taxes. The authority said that input costs such as fuel, LPG, electricity and other operating expenses are part of the cost of running a business and must be factored in pricing menu items. It states that the price displayed in the menu will be the final price, excluding applicable taxes only. Consumers should not be misled or forced to pay any additional charges that are not voluntary. The CCPA said customers who encounter such practices can request that the hotel or restaurant remove the charge from the bill; File a complaint by calling 1915 or through its app and can file a complaint with the appropriate consumer commission through the e-Jagriti portal.
