Forum awards compensation to washing machine buyer

Chennai: The District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum, Chennai (South) has directed a leading home appliances manufacturing giant and its franchise to pay a compensation of Rs 15,000 to a retired Inspector General of Police for losing his washing machine as it caught fire.

In the petition, the retired IPS officer, R. Ram Rajan, Kodambakkam, submitted that he entered into an AMC for washing machine for period September 4, 2009 to September 3, 2010.

Later, he renewed it from September 4, 2010 to September 3, 2011 by paying Rs 3,500 to IFB Industries Ltd., (Home Appliances Division), Vadapalani. On a complaint from him, R.K. International, Vadapalani, a franchisee of IFB Industries Limited, had changed the pulley belt, on July 2, 2010. Due to improper fixing of the belt, the washing machine caught fire.

He informed about the matter on July 9, 2010 and contacted customer care on July 12, 2010. On July 22, the technician visited the place and confirmed the loss was due to a technical fault. Three times a technician was deputed to his place  but the defect was not rectified.

Despite complaints and several reminders, there was no proper response from company and its franchisee. The company and its franchisee committed deficiency of service causing mental agony and hardship to him.

He sought direction to refund the AMC amount of '3,500 and compensation of Rs 1.30 lakh for causing mental agony. In its reply, Mr Sharma of IBF Industries Ltd., Vadapalani, submitted that technicians attended to the problem and the spare part was not available.

There was a delay in rectifying the problem. Admittedly there was no time limit prescribed for repair as per agreement in the AMC and it was subject to availability of the spare part. Hence, it sought the forum to dismiss the petition.