Key Points
- Sharing your mobile number at stores and malls for billing is NOT mandatory, confirms Consumer Ministry.
- Forcing customers to provide personal contact information is considered an unfair trade practice.
- Despite advisories, many stores continue to ask for and misuse customer numbers for marketing or data sales.
- Telangana may soon make it compulsory for shops to display advisory notices about your data rights.
- Shopkeepers in Chandigarh fined ₹10,000 for compelling shoppers to disclose their mobile numbers.
New Delhi: If you’re weary of being asked for your mobile number every time you’re at a checkout counter whether at a supermarket, big retail store, or a fancy shopping mall here’s some important news: Giving your mobile number for billing is entirely optional. India’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs has once again clarified that pressuring customers for mobile numbers amounts to an “unfair trade practice”, and your consent is key.
Persistent Problem Despite Previous Advisory
The Ministry first issued an advisory to all states in May 2023, clearly stating that seeking a customer’s number should never be made compulsory. However, complaints continue to pour in as many retailers persistently request, or outright demand, mobile numbers at billing sometimes touting vague “benefits” like exclusive offers, instant receipts, or loyalty points.
A senior official with the Union Consumer Ministry stated,
“It is not mandatory for customers to provide a mobile number during shopping, but we continue receiving complaints. We are preparing to issue a refreshed advisory and will urge all state governments to enforce it stringently.”
Shops Frequently Misuse Customer Numbers
Often, customer numbers collected at checkout are used for:
- Relentless WhatsApp and SMS marketing
- Sharing or selling data for third-party surveys and promotions
- Building marketing profiles without informed consent
Some shopkeepers claim that offering a number means faster returns or digital bills; however, the law says this should be entirely the consumer’s choice pressure tactics are not tolerated.
New Enforcement: Display Advisory in Every Store
To protect consumers and raise awareness, several state consumer departments including Telangana are considering new rules to make it mandatory for shops and malls to display advisory boards stating that sharing a mobile number is voluntary.
Vani Bhavani, Assistant Commissioner, Telangana Civil Supplies Department, confirmed,
“We are working on a proposal to make the advisory widely visible in commercial establishments. Both retailers and shoppers should be aware that asking for or sharing a mobile number is not mandatory at all.”
Legal Precedents: Hefty Fines for Violations
The issue has already reached the courts. The Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Chandigarh recently fined two shopkeepers ₹10,000 each (plus ₹2,000 to the complainant) for coercing a customer to share their mobile number—a clear message that violating your privacy has financial consequences.
Consumer Takeaway: Know Your Rights
- You have the right to refuse sharing your mobile number at any brick-and-mortar retail outlet or online checkout.
- If you feel pressured, report the incident to local consumer forums or the Consumer Affairs Ministry.
- Watch for advisory signs at retail stores soon, it may be mandatory for your rights to be clearly posted.
Why It Matters
Privacy concerns are at an all-time high in the digital era. Unsolicited marketing, loss of data privacy, and harassment through calls or texts are rampant when retailers collect and misuse your mobile number. The Consumer Ministry’s latest move is a big step toward empowering buyers and curbing data misuse across India.
