Traveling abroad requires a passport, and dealing with consumer complaints about passports can be tedious. Documentation is required in various forms. You must follow certain rules if you are an Indian citizen, and you must follow different rules if you are an NRI. When you apply for a passport, or after you have applied, if there is an issue, you can file a complaint through the consumer complaint section of the website. Consumers who complain about passports should have valid passports to refer to. A consumer forum cannot hear a complaint if this is the case.
One of the news reports published in The Hindu newspaper on 20th September 2018 mentioned a consumer redressal case in which the consumer forum nullified the complainant’s application. The passport office was asked to compensate the applicant. As the passport was rejected after paying the fee, the complainant requested compensation from the regional passport office. The consumer forum declared that the expenditures the lady had to make were used for security papers and stationary printing. A consumer can complain if the passport office’s services are unjustifiedly delayed. The decision of the passport office in such a case is final. This is already the policy of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. A passport application was not processed in this woman’s case due to lack of payment for her original documents.
In this regard, a customer may benefit from the Passport Act’s refusal/impoundment/revocation and appeal procedures.
A hassle-free complaint process for consumers
You don’t have to pay for the consumer complaint forum, and the online portal provides all the guidance you need. Knowing your needs as an Indian citizen is essential. Citizens-friendly passport services are always available at the Seva Kendra, and from filling out the passport form to obtaining a passport, there are numerous ways to assist you. Common citizens benefit from the portal dedicated to them.
A passport application can be filed and processed through the Passport Sewa Portal, where one can get all the information related to the application. The applicant must complete all the basic formalities if there is any problem with his/her documents or verification in order to qualify for a passport.
As well as providing 24-hour assistance with passport-related queries, the National Call Center provides 24-hour assistance for a variety of passport-related problems. The passport office can also be contacted directly; Passport Seva Kendra can provide the best solution.
Also Know about: How to raise Complaint in consumer court ?
Disputes and the Issues Related to Tatkals and Other Verifications
The application file number, name of the applicant, date of birth, etc., all need to be filled in if a grievance or unforeseen issue needs to be reported. You can also send your grievances by e-mail or call Passport Sewa Portal to get updates on your grievance from time to time. As a result, regional passport offices provide the best services. It is not allowed for passport officials to ask you for more or to take bribes from you. When you go for police verification, you might have to pay a certain amount.
There can be certain issues associated with the acquisition of a Tatkal passport, such as police verification. The Tatkal passport is required in case of an emergency; it is typically issued within a short period of time. In the event that a passport gets stolen or lost, there may also be a consumer complaints list about receiving a damaged passport.
* There can also be complaints from consumers if their passports are lost overseas and they return to India.
* The police require the passport number, date of birth, how and where the passport was stolen, the original copy of the FIR made at the police station, and so on in case of a lost or stolen passport.
* In this regard, the role of the regional passport officer is crucial, because all grievances and complaints can be directed to him or her, who can take the initiative to find out how complaints can be resolved.
Are Consumer Complaints Different from Those in Other Industries?
Passport issuance has already attracted debates on whether it can be considered a consumer service act due to its significant features. In addition to goods and services, the Consumer Protection Act also covers unfair trade practices, including those in the private, public, and cooperative sectors. Consumer protection procedures involve the tiers of the judicial system. Besides that, The Consumer Protection Act also recognizes existing rights for consumers.
The passport-related cases differ from the other consumer cases. A consumer notice can request any information they want under the Right to Information Act, which can be one common cause, however there have been many court cases where the verdict has sought to establish whether all complainants are consumers and if the passport office is a service provider.
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