Consumer forum tells weight loss clinic to refund fees for deficient service

A release from the Consumer Education and Research Society (CERS),which took up her case,said Anju was taken in by the clinic’s advertisement announcing a five kilogramme weight loss after undergoing the course. She paid Rs 10,490 to enrol herself with the centre’s Maninagar branch in November 2002.

A month later,Anju,who earlier weighed 59.4 kilogramme,found she had lost no weight as suggested by the clinic,but continued with the course nevertheless.

Three months later,she found she weighed 60.55 kilogramme,according to the clinic’s records. The CERS release said,even four months later,there was no change in her weight.

A complaint was filed with the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum in Ahmedabad against the clinic claiming deficiency in service. The Forum ordered the clinic to refund the fees.

It observed that since Anju herself was keen to reduce her weight before marriage,it was not possible that she would not have followed the instructions.

It also ordered the clinic to pay her six per cent interest from November 18,2002 till it refunded her fees,besides another Rs 1,000 for mental agony and Rs 1,000 as costs.

The clinic appealed to the State Commission,but the Commission observed that it had failed to produce any evidence in support of its contention that Anju’s weight had increased because of irregular eating habits,the release added.