The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued a warning to hotels and restaurants in India against levying 'LPG charges', 'gas surcharge', and 'fuel cost recovery' in consumer bills.
The consumer rights watchdog has termed such additional billing heads as an unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act.
Any fuel-related charges may constitute an unfair trade practice under the Act, according to the advisory, consumer affairs secretary Nidhi Khare said.
Surveillance has been stepped up across cities to monitor compliance with the directive.
The advisory noted that complaints have been received on the National Consumer Helpline that certain businesses were levying such charges in the consumer bill by default, over and above the price of food and beverages displayed in the menu and applicable taxes.
