Chennai: Online retailer to pay Rs 50,000 to customer for poor service

Chennai: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Kancheepuram at Chengalpattu has imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on a leading online retail portal for selling a defective TV to a person two years ago.

In the petition, S Jeevanantham of Chitheri village, Kancheepuram district submitted that on October 26, 2015, he purchased LG 32” LED TV for Rs 19,500 through the online retail major, Amazon. Six months later, a problem came up on the TV and soon he informed the matter to the LG Service Centre,

Kancheepuram. However, they had not taken any action to solve the problem. He again lodged a complaint with the LG Service Centre on May 14, 2016.

An executive from the service centre visited his house and informed him that TV panel was damaged. The service centre staffs removed the panel and told him that it would cost him Rs 13,000 to change the panel. While purchasing the TV the Amazon assured him that it has a warranty period of 1 year from the date of purchase. However, the service centre staff refused to repair the tv without payment. Despite repeated phone calls, the service centre staffs refused to solve the problem. As a result, he had not watched any television program for over 9 months.

Hence, he sought compensation from Amazon and service manager, LG Service Centre, Kancheepuram. Amazon, Perungudi and Service Centre, Kancheepuram failed to appear before the Forum and file replies.

The bench comprising president K. Sivananthajothi and Member D. Babu Varadharajan directed Amazon and service centre to refund Rs 19,500 with an interest of 6 per cent per annum.

The bench also ordered them to pay a compensation of Rs 20,000 for causing him mental agony and a cost of Rs 10,000. The amount shall be payable either jointly by Amazon and Service centre or separately in two months.