Can stores charge you for carry bags: Here’s all you need to know

Popular fashion brand Lifestyle was directed to pay Rs 3000 to a customer as a compensation for charging Rs 7 for a paper shopping bag. Earlier this year, a company was asked to pay Rs 26000 as charged Rs 10 for a cotton carry bag with brand logo.

issue of brands charging for paper shopping bags has gained prominence in recent years. This became a part of shopping ritual after single use plastic bags were banned in India. While customers are informed about extra charges at time of billing by customer incharge, commissions have time again stated that customers must t be charged for paper bags. 

What rules say? 

As per rules, any brand, retailer, or shopkeeper cant charge consumers for plastic, paper, or cloth carry bags if it carries ir company's logo. This is because it is believed that bags with logos printed on m act as vertisement nts for brand. 

Rule 15 of Plastic Waste Manment (Amended) Rules, 2018, which specifically dressed pricing of plastic bags, has been omitted. Consequently, vendors and retailers are t permitted to impose a price on bags. If any brand violates this rule, consumers have right to file a complaint in a consumer forum under Section 12 of Consumer Protection Act, 1986, for unfair tre practices. However, to avoid legal hassle customers often end up paying extra amount. 

If a brand wishes to charge a customer for a bag, it is mandatory that customer is intimated beforehand about extra charges. And extra charge can only be ded to bill after customer gives consent for same.