Hot Millions charges Rs 10 for packing takeaway meal, fined

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, January 3

A local consumer forum has held that charge levied by restaurants and shops for carry bags or packing is an unfair trade practice.

Hot Millions, a restaurant here, has been directed to pay a penalty of Rs 2,200 to the complainant and also refund Rs 10, along with interest at the rate of 9 per cent per annum from February 13 last year till its realisation.

In her complaint, Sapna Vasudeva, an advocate and a resident of Sector 10, had stated that on December 9, 2017, she had ordered four takeaway food items for lunch and paid Rs 1,197. After making the payment, she noticed a charge of Rs 10 under the title “PK” levied in the bill. When asked, the cashier informed her that the amount was a packing charge for it being a takeaway order. She contended that a restaurant does not charge for utensils when food was served in these and thus, it could not charge for packing in case of takeaway order.

She said as food could not be served without utensils, likewise it could not be taken away without packing.

It was further averred that such a charge was nowhere mentioned in the menu or anywhere in the restaurant.

The counsel for Hot Millions said the restaurant could charge for extra services offered to customers.

However, the president of the forum, Satpal, observed that the restaurant did not clearly specify the packing charge in its menu so as to apprise its customers ordering takeaway meal. “In view of this, we may safely conclude with a reasonable degree of certainty that there has been lapse and deficiency on the part of the opposition party while delivering service to the complainant. Hence, the complainant was entitled to relief,” the forum observed.