The responsibilities that a consumer should discharge while purchasing, using and consuming goods and services are as follows:
(i) Consumer must exercise his/her rights: Consumers should make informed decisions and choices regarding products and services and should be aware of their rights to exercise them appropriately.
(ii) Cautiousness: A consumer should be cautious prior to purchasing products and services from the seller and should insist on complete information about the product and service in terms of pricing, brand, warranty, delivery time, customer care service, etc.
(iii) Filing complaints for the redressal of grievances: In case of any dissatisfaction from consumption of products or services, consumers must file complaints suitably on redressal forums by providing appropriate evidence but they cannot exaggerate the loss or defects from those products or services.
(iv) Consumers should be quality-conscious: Consumers should look for quality marks on the products such as ISI, ISO, Agmark etc., to avoid purchasing duplicate or adulterated products.
(v) Insist on cash memo/bill: Every consumer should insist on a cash memo/bill when purchasing any product. While filing complaints about the products, the purchasing bill needs to be presented as an evidence of purchase or sale.
(vi) Do not be carried away by advertisements: Consumers should not be carried away by advertisements, which exaggerate the usage and benefits of the products shown in them. Consumers should compare the actual result from usage of products/ services with whatever was suggested in the advertisements.
(vii) Safeguarding consumers interest: Consumers should form consumer societies to keep themselves informed and play an active part in educating and safeguarding other consumers' interests.
(viii) Discourage black marketing: Consumers should consciously discourage products from being black marketed and choose standardised or branded products as grievances occurring from usage of black goods cannot be addressed easily.