Consumer forum asks packer co to pay Rs 1.5 lakh compensation to client
Chennai: The District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum, Chennai (South) has directed a packer and movers company to pay Rs 1.49 lakh to a woman for damaging household articles while shifting.
In the petition, Sharmilee Nielsen said she had hired Leo Packers and Movers of Thiruvanmiyur and paid Rs 78,313 for storage and transporting household goods from her previous residence to her new residence in Kotivakkam.
The company delivered the goods at her residence in Kotivakkam on August 13, 2011. When the goods were unpacked in the presence of company staff, it was found that most of them were damaged, cracked and destroyed. The list of items damaged was handed over to them.
Subsequently, Convenant Assessors Private Ltd., a private surveyor, conducted a survey. In the report of August 24, 2011, it stated that the goods were destroyed due to improper packing, jerks during the road transit and mishandling while loading and unloading and goods worth Rs 1,44,750 were damaged. She said she paid Rs 30,000 for the risk coverage a separate charges and insurance coverage for declared value of Rs 10 lakh.
Despite repeated requests the company did not settle the claim as per the insurance coverage. In the petition, she sought Rs 1,44,750 towards damages and also Rs 1.25 lakh as compensation for causing her mental agony and cost.
Denying the allegations, Leo Packers and Movers said the petitioner packed a part of the consignment on her own by engaging other packers. This was not packed properly. Despite requests she refused to allow them to re-pack the articles.
As she had not followed the instructions, the petitioner was not liable for compensation. Hence complaint is liable to be dismissed, the company added.
The bench, comprising President B. Ramalingam, members K. Amala and Dr T. Paul Rajasekaran, said the company is responsible for the damage of goods.
The bench directed the company to pay Rs 1,44,750 to the complainant with interest of 9 per cent per annum from October 17, 2011 and cost of Rs 5,000.
