INDIA BUSINESS WORLD - FEBRUARY 2007
The Month that was ...

CONSUMER REDRESSAL IS JUST A CLICK AWAY

FEELING a fool because you fell for all that sales pitch and have now landed a device that doesn't quite function satisfactorily? Wanna take the brand to the consumer court? Nah! Who has the time for that? There's hope for the likes of you very soon, redressal may be just a mouse-click away. Mobile applications company Mobile Mantra has just the solution for you if you think you're wronged: It's an online application that will bring together the aggrieved consumers, the brands and an intermediary Core (Consumer Online Resource & Empowerment) Centre, an organisation supported by the Union ministry of consumer affairs. The online platform, which is at present running as a pilot project of Core, will be launched before World Consumer Rights Day on March 15.

Complaints will be received at the website www.core.nic.in, which is being hosted by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The moment a complaint arrives, an alert goes to the brand, which is given time to sort out the problem." The company is then given time to resolve the issue before it gets published as a blog on website.

"Quite a few companies, including some from the telecom and banking & financial services sectors, are registering as members they see it as an opportunity to redress complaints and bridge the gap between the brand and the consumer." Core Centre is presenting the project as a great brand-building exercise.