Chandigarh, June 10 -- Reiterating that service charges cannot be imposed on consumers by default, the district consumer disputes redressal commission, Chandigarh, directed Twisting Scoops Pvt Ltd, operating from Haveli, Jalandhar, to refund an illegally collected service charge and pay Rs.5,000 as compensation and litigation costs to a Chandigarh resident.

The complaint was filed by Satinder Pal Singh Bhullar, who visited the outlet on February 23, 2025, and purchased ice cream. According to the complaint, he was billed Rs.393, which included a 10 per cent service charge amounting to Rs.35.75. Bhullar alleged that when he objected to the charge and sought its removal, the outlet's manager refused to refund the amount and insisted that t...