Thane District Consumer Redressel Forum (TDCRF) has directed a mobile phone manufacturing company and dealer to pay Rs 18,900 for selling defective mobile to a man residing in the district.
President of the forum Umesh Jawalikar and member N D Kadam yesterday directed the phone manufacturer Meridian Mobile Pvt Ltd (UK) and the dealer 'Big Bazaar' to pay compensation of Rs 18,900 to the complainant, who had purchased the phone at Rs 8,900 that stopped functioning.
The case relates to one Ravindra Raghuvanshi, a resident of Mira Road, who purchased Fly mobile handset from Big Bazaar in September 2008.
According to the complainant, within a couple of weeks, the mobile started giving problems and was sent to the company's authorised service centre for repairs, which was returned to him after repairs. However, in December 2008 the mobile again developed problems and stopped functioning, after which it was once again given to the service station.
The service agent neither returned the mobile after repairs nor did he tell him as to when the mobile would be available, Raghuvanshi told the forum.
He also said that due to these problems, he also suffered business loss.
The respondents-- the mobile company and the dealer opposed the claim and argued that as the complainant used the mobile for his business, as he does not fall under the category of customer and was not covered under the Consumer Protection Act.
However, the forum said that the respondents were "deficient in their services" and had supplied a "defective" mobile to the consumer and ordered them to pay Rs 8,900 towards the cost of the mobile, with an interest of 12% from the date of purchase that within a period of three months from the date of this order, failing which they have to pay an interest at the rate of 15% p.A. Till the realisation of the amount.
In addition to this, both the respondents were ordered to pay an amount of Rs 10,000 to the complainant towards legal expenses.
