5 e-com cos directed to stop selling car seat belt alarm stopper clips

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) today issued orders against top five e-commerce platforms—Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Shopclues and Meesho—for selling car seat belt alarm stopper clips.

These clips disable the alarm beep reminding drivers to wear seat belts. Without these clips, the beep would continue to prod (or nag) the driver to wear the seat belt. The clips compromise life and safety of consumers by stopping alarm beep when not wearing seat belts, an official press release said.

Headed by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare, the CCPA passed orders against the five companies.

The issue of the sale of car seat belt alarm stopper clips was brought to the notice of the CCPA by the Department of Consumer Affairs by a letter of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). The letter highlighted the issue of blatant sale of car seat belt alarm stopper clips. The MoRTH requested for action on errant vendors and online platforms, the release said.

Using car seat belt alarm stopper clips can also be a hurdle for consumers seeking claim amounts in the cases of motor insurance policies, wherein an insurance company may deny the claim by citing the negligence on the part of the claimant. For the use of such clips can be tantamount of negligence.

Also, using seat belt acts as a restraint that allows the airbag to provide proper cushion and not hit the passengers at full force; it also works as a protective shield in case of collisions.

Taking into consideration the severity of the said product on the safety of consumers, the CCPA referred the matter to Director General, Investigation (CCPA). Based on the recommendation in the investigation report and submissions made by e-commerce entities, the CCPA has issued directions to the e-commerce platforms where they were directed to permanently delist all car seat belt alarm stopper clips and associated motor vehicle components which compromise the safety of passengers and the public.

They were also directed to inform the CCPA of the steps taken against errant sellers of such products and submit details of the sellers along with a compliance report on the above directions.