For more than a decade, MGP has been forwarding complaints received from LPG consumers to the three major supply companies, IOC, HP and BP. But despite several serious complaints, not much action was taken against the erring LPG dealers. Therefore, we were heartened to see an advertisement from Hindustan Petroleum in the local papers last week announcing the suspension of an LPG dealer, Samrat Gas Services and the transfer of service to Raghavendra Agencies. It is learnt that this suspension is a result of innumerable consumer complaints agaisnt the gas agency.
Many consumers are not aware of the options before them when they encounter bad service at an LPG dealer. If repeated complaints to the dealer do not work, then it is time to get a transfer to another dealer. You can get a transfer to any dealer (even of a different oil company) if your home in the area of his service. This transfer policy was implemented to discourage bad service. If an LPG dealer continues to give bad service, he will soon lose all his customers to other dealers. But since most consumers are not aware that they can get transfers, they continue to suffer and bad dealers continue to prosper.
As an example, in the case of Samrat, you can get a transfer to Raghavendra. The suspension of Samrat is not permanent and if you are worried that you will not get good service when the suspension is revoked, you can apply for a transfer right now and you will get it.
If complaints to the dealer do not work, you can also complain to the concerned oil company. The phone numbers are: Mr. Mohan (BPC) 94481 17453, Mr. Borkar (HPC) 99026 50151 and Mr. Shiva Prakash (IOC) 94482 85525.
C V Nagaraj, member, Mysore Grahakara Parishat