Chennai: Forum orders mobile co to pay Rs 10K fine for faulty cellphone

Chennai: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram district, directed a cellphone manufacturing company to pay compensation of Rs 10,000 to a youth after his cellphone developed a freak problem soon after he purchased it two years ago. Despite servicing the cellphone it was sending smses to one cellphone continuously.

In the petition, C.Sathish of K.K. Nagar, submitted that he purchased a mobile phone manufactured by M/s. Intex Technologies (I) Ltd., New Delhi from M/s. Saravana Stores, Chromepet on August 4, 2016. Within a fortnight the handset malfunctioned and was sending smses automatically to a particular cell phone number.

He approached its service centre at West Tambaram to rectify the defect. Even after servicing, the problem continued. He again handed over the cell phone to the service centre on October 19, 2016.

The service centre did not return it to him for long. He said that the general manager, M/s. Intex Technologies (I) Ltd., New Delhi, and manager, M/s. Intex Technologies (I) Ltd., West Tambaram, had committed deficiency in service. He sought a refund of Rs 7,500 paid towards the cost of the mobile phone and compensation of Rs 50,000 for causing him mental agony and deficiency in service.

In its reply, the managing director, M/s. Intex Technologies (I) Ltd., denied the allegations and submitted that Sathish had mishandled the cellphone.

The bench comprising president J.Justin David and member K.Prameela held that the general manager, M/s. Intex Technologies (I) Ltd., New Delhi, and manager, M/s. Intex Technologies (I) Ltd., West Tambaram, had committed deficiency in service, which caused mental agony to the complainant, and directed the cellphone company to pay a compensation of Rs 10,000 including '7,500, the cost of the handset.