‘You Are Violating Privacy & Consumer Laws’: TMC’s Mahua Moitra Is Pissed With Decathlon | Here’s Why

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra slammed French sporting goods retailer Decathlon after she was asked to provide her mobile number and email ID at the billing counter.

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Thursday targeted French sporting goods retailer Decathlon and accused them of violating privacy laws and consumer laws. In a Twitter post, Moitra shared her experience as she visited the Decathlon store at Ansal Plaza in Delhi-NCR to buy a pair of pants for her father. However, what irked her was that she was asked to provide her phone number and e-mail address at the checkout. She slammed the store and said it was a violation of her “right to privacy and consumer law”.  The MP also claimed that it is only the Indian Decathlon store that asks for personal details.

“Want to buy my dad trousers for ₹1499 in CASH at @Decathlon_India. Ansal Plaza & manager insists I need to put in my mobile number & email ID to purchase. @Decathlon_India you are violating privacy laws & consumer laws by insisting on this. Am at store currently,” she tweeted on Thursday.

See the tweet here:

Want to buy my dad trousers for ₹1499 in CASH at @Decathlon_India Ansal Plaza & manager insists I need to put in my mobile number & email
ID to purchase.
Sorry @Decathlon_India you are violating privacy laws & consumer laws by insisting on this. Am at store currently.

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) April 28, 2022

In a second tweet, she stated how she had been shopping with the brand in the UK as well but was never asked for her mobile number. “I always buy stuff in the UK from Decathlon UK and they NEVER ask for mobile number only for the email if one wants a paperless receipt. So clearly only the Indian arm wants to fool customers here. Not nice Decathlon India”, she tweeted.

I always buy stuff in UK from @DecathlonUK & they NEVER ask for mobile num & only for email if one wants paperless receipt.
So clearly only Indian arm wants to fool customers here. Not nice @Decathlon_India

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) April 28, 2022

Later, she shared the screenshot of a text she received from a Supreme Court lawyer. She also informed that the manager finally put in his number and got her out of store.

Received this message from a top lawyer at the Supreme Court just now. The sweet manager finally put in his number & got me out of store (with dad’s trousers) But @Decathlon_India needs to reconfigure now. pic.twitter.com/Ez4OxGDuJJ

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) April 28, 2022

Meanwhile, as her tweet went viral, many shared similar experiences. Several leaders also backed Moitra on the issue.  Tehseen Poonawalla, an entrepreneur and social activist, reacted to her tweet and wrote, ”No need to give your number or email ID. You can ask them to give it in writing to you on the company letter head that they will NOT sell you the trousers without your personal data! See how they fall in place !”

No need to give your number or email ID. You can ask them to give it in writing to you on the company letter head that they will NOT sell you the trousers without your personal data! See how they fall in place !!

— Tehseen Poonawalla Official 🇮🇳 (@tehseenp) April 28, 2022

Here are other reactions:

They actually refused to sell me one piece I wanted to buy bcoz I refused to share details and I was paying cash. It's a store in Delhi. I gave in because had a huge Q behind me. Seems a common practise for all stores but @Decathlon_India actually refused to sell w/o mobile #

— AnuMeera (@AnuMeera2024) April 28, 2022

I was once denied a simple purchase of a dolo strip by @wellness_24X7 because I won’t give them my phone number. For a commodity product, which I can easily buy from another pharmacy right next to it (and I did), they lost my business for ever.

— Akshay Mittal (@mittaldotakshay) April 28, 2022

i have asked @goibibo to delete my account but they replied that they can only deactivate it and not delete my data completely. How is this adhering to privacy laws?

— Nitin (@nitindokania) April 28, 2022

This has become a story everywhere, but they don't insist like this.
And normally they are happy with the mobile number only so that they can send spam messages…

— শৌণক বসু (@shaunakhub) April 28, 2022

What do you think about this issue?