Grievances Against Misleading Advertisements

What is GAMA?

The Department of Consumer Affairs has launched this portal for registering online complaints for Grievances Against Misleading Advertisements (GAMA ).

What is a misleading advertisement?

Any advertisement or promotion through Television, Radio, or any other electronic media, Newspapers, Banners, Posters, Handbills, wall-writing etc. to misrepresent the nature, characteristics, qualities or geographic origin of goods, services or commercial activities so as to mislead the consumer could be broadly defined as a misleading advertisement.

In simple terms any advertisement that gives false information, making false claims or contravening any other provision of the advertising code can be termed as a misleading advertisement.

Types of advertisements you can complain about?

Advertisements appearing in News Papers, hoardings, handbills, wall writing as well as advertisements in the electronic media such as TV channels, radio channels, internet sites etc. are some examples.

What do I do as a consumer when I see such advertisements?

As an aware Consumer, you can register a complaint along with a copy / video / audio of such advertisement through the web portal the GOI at http://gama.gov.in .

How do I register my grievance?

1. Step 1 - A one time registration is required for lodging a complaint. For registration go to the web portal http://gama.gov.in and click on the login link and then signup giving details required, verify through your email. The User id and password are created.
2. Step 2 - Using this user id and password, enter into the portal and fill in require details of complaint attaching necessary audio / video / paper clip / photograph (if available).

Is there any alternate way for registering my complaints?

You can register a complaint along with the copy / video / audio of such advertisement through the nearest Grahak Suvidha Kendra or designated Voluntary Consumer Organizations (VCOs) who will in turn lodge your grievance through the web portal of the GOI at http://gama.gov.in to bring it to the notice of the Government.

What happens to the complaint?

Regional Language and local complaints will be taken up by Grahak Suvidha Kendras / Voluntary Consumer Organizations (VCOs) as the case may be with appropriate local authorities. National level complaints would be forwarded to the concerned regulator of the sector to which the complaint pertains. Complaints would also be monitored for follow up action by the Department of Consumer Affairs.

Regulators will be in turn take up the matter with the concerned Company / Agency for remedial action. All VCOs, regulators and DoCA will update the action taken by them regularly through the web portal.

All unresolved complaints will be placed before the Inter-Ministerial Committee constituted by the Department of Consumer Affairs, for arriving at a logical conclusion.

How do I track the status of my complaint?

Complainants could login using user id and password provided at the time of registering complaint and can track the status. Alternatively, GSK / VCOs would inform the complainant, if the complaint was lodged through them, from time to time.

What Action do I expect on my complaint?

Every complaint will be registered and a Unique Complaint ID is issued. The complainant can track the status of the complaint using this ID. The complaint will be forwarded to the concerned regulator / authority for action against those responsible for the misleading advertisement. Action according to the provisions of the existing law will be initiated.

Who are the authorities?

The Government Departments / Self-regulating Authorities / Ombudsmen are the authorities.

Who will be contact person in the Department of Consumer Affairs?

Deputy Secretary (Publicity)
Department of Consumer Affairs
Krishi Bhawan.
New Delhi - 110001
Email : dspub-ca@nic.in

Source : Portal For Grievances Against Misleading Advertisements (GAMA)

Related Resources

1. Consumer Awareness on Rights of Consumer
2. Consumer Protection Acts and Rules
3. Consumer Grievances