As the Indian consumer is getting more mature, it is time that the companies should also get a hang of it.

The RR Singhania - AutoPace case is certainly a case in point. Singhania booked a Maruti car from the dealer named Autopace in Chandigarh with a booking amount of Rs. 50,000.

As it was earlier promised by the dealer that the consumer will get an interest on the booking amount from the date of deposit to date of delivery minus seven days, the condition was not fulfilled later.

In fact, the district consumer forum headed by its president Jagroop Singh Mahal has directed the dealer to pay Rs. 35K as compensation to the consumer.

According to the calculations made, Rs. 1483 were due as interest for 83 days on the booking amount but as the dealer postponed the payment again and again, the district court has now decided to set this case as an example in from of the entire industry. However, the low level of awareness within the consumer circle still stands as the biggest challenge to keep the industry at its toes.