Meaning of consumer: According to the Consumer Protection Act, a consumer is “A person who receives goods or services against an exchange, who pays or agrees to compensate partly or fully or promises to compensate on a future date or has participated in some future payment plan. Any user of the product or service who uses it on the basis of the permission of the purchaser is a consumer. But the one who purchases on a resale basis or for further production is not included under the definition of a consumer.”
Any of the following can complain to the dispute settlement institutions:
- Consumer himself
- Registered consumer union on behalf of consumer
- State government or central government on behalf of consumers
- Legal heirs or representatives of deceased consumers
