DMart faces fine in Hyderabad for charging for a plastic bag

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Jun 24, 2022

Value fashion, accessories, and lifestyle retailer DMart has been fined Rs 10,000 by the Hyderabad Consumer Forum for charging a customer Rs 3.50 for a carrier bag featuring its logo. 

DMart customer V Narasimha Murthy has been refunded Rs 3.50 for the carrier bag along with Rs 10,000 for the ‘mental agony’ he endured, TNN reported. Murthy had made purchases at DMart totalling Rs 479 on December 5, 2019 and alleged that he was told he had to pay for a carrier bag which featured the DMart logo. Murthy also alleged that he was not made aware of this policy when he entered the store and began shopping. 

DMart, however, still maintains that it displayed sufficient signage in the store to inform shoppers that they can either use their own carrier bags or purchase one at the till. The business also stated that it allows customers to return their carrier bag for a full refund within seven days of purchase if they do not wish to keep it. However, the Hyderabad Consumer Forum ruled that DMart had engaged in unfair trade practices. 

“Customers are not prohibited from carrying their own carry bags,” said DMart in a statement, ET Bureau reported. “Packers present at each billing counter fill the products/ groceries in the customer’s bag and hand it over in a portable condition. We have a return policy of returning goods/ carry bag within seven days from the date of purchase if a customer is not desirous of retaining the same. The complainant miserably failed to do the needful within the specified time and instead planned to procure undue gain/ benefits.”