CONSUMER AWARENESS

Credit card PIN a must for online shopping
One more number to remember
Effective from 1 August 2009, those desirous of online shopping through their credit or debit cards are required to punch their Personal Identification Number (PIN) into the given slot on the purchase site, said an RBI circular. This is in addition to name, credit card number, expiry date and card verification value number.
The circular came in line with the earlier requirement for a secure code by VISA and Master Card provides as ‘additional authentication pass code’ for online shopping. The customer has to apply to his/her bank and branch seeking online registration. The bank would then allot him a password for online transactions.
Considering the huge number of applications received by the bank for such PINs/passwords, some banks have made Internet transaction password as the PIN for credit card transaction. This new procedure is expected to reduce online frauds.
Playing safe

Display of Airfares to be more transparent
It pays to be fair
Rule 135 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 has been amended to provide better transparency in display of airfares, reports dgca.nic.in. The airlines now need to display air tariff in a conspicuous manner to show the total amount payable by a passenger and a complete break-up of the total amount, indicating the fare, tax, fees or any other charge, if any, separately.
The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also asked the airlines to amend their websites accordingly and advise their agents, too.
The DGCA issued this circular in the light of the facts that there was no uniformity of airfare display on the website, the terms used to show the fare break-up were not passenger friendly and the display of airfares on the websites of the airlines were not in accordance with the Rule.
Come clean

Two-wheeler makers to provide helmets too
Heading towards safety
The Division Bench of the Delhi High Court has directed two-wheeler manufacturers in India to provide a headgear to the consumers, along with the vehicle, as per the Central Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Rules, 1999.
Deciding on a petition filed by the Society for Awareness, Human Development and Rights (SAHAR), the court dismissed the plea of the All India Helmet Manufacturers Association (AIHMA) that this would result in a monopoly helmet market of two-wheeler manufacturers, reports delhicourts.nic.in. "We do not think that there is any fundamental right against any act aimed at doing some public good", the court stated. The court also ordered the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) to provide, within three months, a detailed list of helmets supplied to consumers.
Opposition bulldozed

EC fines Intel £1b for abuse of position
Inside Intel
The European Commission has fined computer chip manufacturer Intel 1 billion pound sterling for abuse of its dominant position. Intel tried to exclude its main competitor Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) from the market, making consumers pay for years far too much for their computers, says Consumer Choice. The Bureau Europeen des Unions de Consommateurs (BEUC or the European consumers’ organisation) has applauded the decision.
Intel illegally offered conditional rebates and payments to manufacturers and retailers to ensure they only sold computer equipped with Intel chips. The BEUC said Intel should compensate the affected consumers. Intel said it would file an appeal.
Designs on consumers