Pimpri-Chinchwad Youth Exposes Illegal EV Handling Charges; Wakad Showroom Suspended for 15 Days

An RTI filed by a Pimpri-Chinchwad resident led to action against an electric bike showroom in Wakad after authorities found it had collected illegal handling charges from customers.

A consumer rights victory from Pimpri-Chinchwad has highlighted the importance of checking every charge on a vehicle invoice before making payment. A young buyer’s persistence and use of the Right to Information (RTI) Act resulted in the suspension of an electric bike showroom’s licence for 15 days after authorities found it had collected illegal handling charges from customers.

The complainant, Sandesh Sanjay Thorve, a resident of Indrayani Nagar in Bhosari, had booked an electric bike from an Oben Electric showroom in Wakad in July 2024. After paying for the vehicle online, he carefully examined the invoice and noticed an additional amount charged as ‘handling charges’.

Instead of accepting the charge, Thorve sought clarification from the company. According to the complaint, the showroom maintained that it was following government guidelines. Unsatisfied with the response, he filed applications under the Right to Information (RTI) Act and obtained official documents from the Transport Commissioner’s office.

The documents reportedly stated that vehicle dealers cannot collect additional charges such as handling or logistics fees over and above the prescribed vehicle price, taxes and registration charges. Based on this information, Thorve submitted a detailed complaint to the Maharashtra government.

The complaint was reportedly addressed to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Following the complaint, the Transport Commissioner’s office and the Regional Transport Office (RTO) conducted an inquiry into the matter.

After the investigation, authorities found violations of the applicable rules and ordered the suspension of the Wakad showroom’s business licence for 15 days. The action is being viewed as a warning to dealerships against levying unauthorised charges on customers.

Thorve said the action demonstrated that an informed consumer could successfully challenge unfair trade practices through legal means. He also thanked the state government and transport authorities for acting on the complaint.

What are handling charges?

Handling charges generally refer to the cost claimed by dealerships for transporting or preparing a vehicle before delivery. Consumer rights advocates have repeatedly maintained that such expenses are part of a dealer’s operating costs and should not be recovered separately from customers unless specifically permitted under law.

What should vehicle buyers do?

Consumer experts advise buyers to:

• Read the final invoice carefully before making payment.
• Question any charges labelled as handling, logistics, processing or similar terms.
• Ask the dealer to provide the legal basis for any additional fee.
• Preserve invoices, emails and payment receipts.
• Approach the RTO or consumer authorities if unauthorised charges are imposed.

Disclaimer: The reported action relates to the findings of the authorities in this specific case. Consumers should verify applicable rules and official government notifications, as dealership practices and regulations may vary depending on the circumstances.