Debangana Ray
Published on August 22, 2022 at 22:05 IST
Chandigarh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission held that misleading advertisements relating to weight loss programmes are an act of unfair trade practice.
The case was in relation to VLCC’s appeal against refund of program fee to a complainant which was dismissed by the state commission which observed that,
“The act of the appellants of giving false assurances on one hand by way of misleading advertisements and on the other hand, obtaining declaration from the consumers qua no guarantee/assurance regarding the result and outcome of the programme is a clear example of unfair trade practices adopted by them, for which, the consumers (respondent in this case), could not be made to suffer at the hands of the appellants.”
The complainant had purchased a VLCC weight loss program which promised weight loss of 5 kg and reduction of stomach circumference by 4 inches in 1 month.
However, the complainant saw no progress so they applied a different program which also did not provide any result. After which, the complainant filed a complaint in the State Consumer Commission.
The commission observed that there was money back guarantee given by VLCC and also it allured the complainant further with a treatment through an expensive machine which led to the complainant spending more money.