LPG delivery staff charge consumers extra in Ludhiana

Delivery staff from different gas agencies demand extra money to deliver cylinders at customers' doorsteps. The cost of an LPG cylinder is Rs 667.5 as printed on slip given to consumer, instead the delivery staff is charging Rs 680. If a customer refuses to pay, the worker threatens them that they will take back the cylinder.

Delivery staff from different gas agencies demand extra money to deliver cylinders at customers' doorsteps. The cost of an LPG cylinder is Rs 667.5 as printed on slip given to consumer, instead the delivery staff is charging Rs 680. If a customer refuses to pay, the worker threatens them that they will take back the cylinder.

However, when contacted, a few gas agency owners said a consumer should pay the printed price as written on the cash memo given to the consumer. They should not pay a penny more. If any consumer is charged more, they must contact the agency immediately.

HT received several complaints from various area residents regarding the overcharging for LPG cylinders.

How much extra did you pay

Talking to Hindustan Times, Ashish Kumar, a resident, said, "The delivery staff is charging more than the printed price. When we say that we will not pay more, they threaten us that they will take back the cylinder and will inform the agency that the consumer was not at home. So I was forced to pay `680 instead of `667 to the delivery staff recently. Our neighbours have also paid the same price. I paid the same price last month, too. The agency owners must take strict action against the staff that indulges in malpractices."

Another resident, Meena Goyal said, "The delivery staff always gives an excuse that they don't have change. I have paid extra charges twice for getting a refill of LPG cylinder. Earlier, the staff used to charge `10 extra, but now they charge Rs 12.5 extra."

What gas agency owners say

Owner of Nirjag Gas agency Shiv Kumar Sharma said, "The consumer must pay the price printed on the cash memo. If the delivery staff is charging more, they must inform the agency so that action can be taken against the delivery boy concerned. We pay salary to the delivery staff and they need to charge the printed price from the consumer."

Bharat Gas distributor from Khanna Ravjot Singh said, "The consumer should be aware and should not pay a penny more to delivery staff. Most of the consumers pay more to the delivery boys than the printed price. If any consumer is overcharged, they must complain immediately. The government must fix charges for the delivery staff, only than they will stop fleecing the consumers."

Officialspeak

We will instruct the agency owners to ask their delivery boys not to charge more than the printed price on cash memo. Gas agency owners must change the delivery boy concerned if he is found involved in such malpractices. The consumer should not pay more to a delivery boy.

Sona Thind, district food and supply controller (DFSC)