When is World Consumer Rights Day?

Every year on March 15, world consumer rights day is commemorated to preserve consumers’ rights and guarantee that customers are not subjected to market abuse or social injustice that may jeopardize their rights.

What Do You Mean by Consumer Rights?

Consumer rights mean you have the right to accurate and reliable information about the goods or services you purchase as a consumer or buyer. The seller is responsible for ensuring the quality, purity, cost, potency, and standards of the goods and services offered to the client.

World Consumer Rights Day

World consumer rights day is a global event that attempts to increase awareness about consumer rights and demands. Consumer rights imply that anybody who purchases various items, goods, or services has the right to get information about the quality, purity, price, and standard of such things.

Did you know that you have the right to make a complaint from anywhere, at any time as a consumer? Most individuals are unaware of their consumer rights; therefore, commemorating this day, we raise awareness of the right to seek protection and avoid fraudulent acts in the marketplace.

World Consumer Rights Day Theme

According to Consumers International, ‘Fair Digital Finance’s is the theme for world consumer rights day 2022.

The worldwide consumer advocacy movement will advocate for fair digital finance for all consumers. The movement will develop new consumer-centered insights and campaigns for inclusive, safe, data-protected, and private digital money that is also sustainable.

World consumer rights day, will kick off the first-ever global discussion in a constantly changing world, arguing for solutions that put consumer rights at the center of meaningful and long-term change.

Background of Consumer Rights Day Theme 2022 

Payments, loans, insurance, and wealth management are all being reshaped by digital technology, which is quickly becoming a crucial enabler for financial service users. Globally, digital financial services and financial technology have resulted in substantial changes:

• The number of digital banking customers is predicted to hit 3.6 billion by 2024.
• In the developing world, the proportion of account holders who send and receive payments digitally has increased from 57 percent in 2014 to 70 percent in 2017.
• Fintech adoption is a major priority for 39% of organizations, demonstrating the global need for a more creative financial landscape.

However, digital financial services have introduced new hazards while amplifying existing ones, potentially leading to unjust results for customers and leaving them most vulnerable in an increasingly cashless world.

There is substantial evidence that these hazards have grown in recent years, and crises like the COVID-19 epidemic have increased these risks in areas where weak consumers are particularly vulnerable owing to economic difficulties. A global, collaborative, and coordinated strategy is required to achieve equitable digital finance for all. The fast-growing and complicated nature of digital financial services highlights the need for serious regulatory methods and digital financial services and solutions that prioritize consumer protection and empowerment.

It is more crucial than ever to expand our knowledge and collaborate to understand what fair financial services look like in a digital age and what role consumer-centered financial services can play in global challenges such as sustainability.

History of World Consumer Rights Day

The ultimate purpose of world consumer rights day, commemorated on March 15, is to guarantee that customers have all of the information they need to make a decision. Every year, Consumers International creates and organizes world consumer rights day. Consumers International is a global federation of consumer groups created in 1960 as an independent and prominent voice for consumers.

The history of this day is fascinating. World consumer rights day has been observed since 1983, and the date of March 15 celebrates U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s speech to the United States Congress on March 15, 1962. He defined the four core consumer rights in this speech: the right to safety, the right to be informed, the freedom to choose, and the right to be heard.

Since then, world consumer rights day has risen in popularity and is observed annually with a different topic. One of the recent themes, ‘Tackling Plastic Pollution,’ aims to increase awareness of sustainable consumerism and behaviors centered on the production and use of plastics and their environmental effect. Knowing our consumer rights is critical because we can only tell whether we are being duped or scammed if we are aware of our consumer rights. Most significantly, we have the ability to speak out and take legal action against any product or service purchase that violates our rights. Talk about empowering the people.

How to Observe World Consumer Rights Day?

Participate in consumer rights events

Consumers International, the global membership organization for consumer groups, organizes various events throughout the year, and you may attend these events to learn more about consumer rights.

Inform people of their consumer rights

Because many individuals are unaware of their consumer rights, you may commemorate this day by teaching your friends, family, and coworkers about their rights as customers.

Tell us about your consumer rights experience

Share your social media story about when your consumer rights were abused and what you did about it. Who can say? Your experience may encourage others to fight for their rights!

Why is World Consumer Rights Day Important?

We require this day

World consumer rights day is much needed because it is basically awareness raising day. When unfair trade practices and greedy corporations abuse consumers, this day equips us with the tools we need to be astute and astute consumers.

It is a day for everyone

Everyone on the planet is a consumer, even those who own the businesses we buy from. As a result, it is a day for everyone to learn more about their consumer rights.

It has the potential to bring about change

If everyone in the world works together to improve consumer rights knowledge, the world will change for the better in terms of consumer rights.

What Are Some Consumer Rights?

On March 15, 1962, President John F. Kennedy spoke for consumer rights in front of the United States Congress. This was the first time that any politician had established such ideals. The consumer movement evolved this idea into eight core consumer rights. The following are the consumer rights:

The right to basic needs fulfillment — fundamental, essential goods and services such as enough food, clothes, shelter, health care, education, public utilities, water, and sanitation.

The right to safety — being safeguarded from products, manufacturing methods, and services which is detrimental to one’s health or life.

The right to a healthy environment — the right to live and work in an environment that is not hazardous to the health of current and future generations.

The freedom to choice — having the ability to pick among various items and services available at reasonable rates and of adequate quality.

The right to be heard — the right for consumer interests to be reflected in the formulation and implementation of government policy, as well as in the creation of products and services.

Facts About World Consumer Rights

If you purchase products and services from a local market or any other online platform, you may be entitled to various rights if the items provided to you are incorrect or inadequate. Unfortunately, many customers are unaware of their rights, putting them in a tough position if they purchase items or services that are given under false premises. Many customers face difficulties when attempting to benefit from these rights. Here are some interesting facts about your basic consumer rights:

• You have the right to register a complaint at any time and from any location. If a consumer has an issue with a product or service, he or she has the right to file a complaint from home, workplace, or any other place.
• Under this right, you have the right to seek product or service compensation. In the event of a defective product or service, you must file a complaint to express the product’s guarantee; if the seller refuses to accept the report, he or she will be held accountable for the repercussions. This criterion includes e-commerce as well.
• If your complaint is denied, you have the right to be informed why. No district commission has the authority to dismiss your complaint without a hearing. In reality, the commission is obligated to determine whether to reject or admit the complaint within 21 days. If no action is taken, the complaint is presumed to be allowed under the legislation.
• The most important right is that you do not need a lawyer to appear in a consumer court! You can represent the case with any relative or even yourself. Alternatively, you may have a lawyer to handle the initial paperwork and then handle the remainder of the details on your own.
• You have the right to select a product or service and bargain for it.
• You have the right, as a consumer, to seek redress or compensation for unfair or prohibited trading practices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does the Consumer Protection Act necessitate?

The Customer Protection Act provides for quick and easy resolution of consumer complaints. It encourages customers to complain about defects in goods and services.

When was the first world consumer rights day celebrated?

Every year on March 15th, world consumer rights day is observed. President John F. Kennedy inspired world consumer rights day by sending a special statement to the US Congress on March 15, 1962, in which he explicitly addressed the topic of consumer rights.

Who started world consumer rights day?

President John F. Kennedy initiated world consumer rights day by sending a special statement to the US Congress on March 15, 1962, in which he explicitly addressed the topic of consumer rights. He was the world’s first leader to do so.

Conclusion

On March 15th, world consumer rights day increases global awareness of consumers’ rights and demands. It is also a day to advocate maintaining and preserving consumer rights.

You are a consumer if you buy products and services for personal consumption. You must have had a bad experience as a customer. Perhaps you purchased a new product that broke within a few months after purchase, or you hired someone to do a service, but they did not fulfill your expectations. In all of these circumstances, you can use your consumer right to report your complaint.

Most businesses aim to prevent unfavorable consumer experiences since they reflect adversely on their brand. Most nations have laws in place to safeguard the rights of consumers. These businesses must follow these laws.