THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Alappuzha Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum has ordered a mobile phone manufacturer and electronic commerce giant to refund the price of a phone and pay Rs 3000 as compensation for selling a device with an 'expired warranty'. As per the complainant Sudheer K of Ariad, Alappuzha, he had ordered a Sony Xperia mobile phone for an amount of Rs 24,900 from Vibanika E-store, Chennai through Flipkart. The product was delivered on April 7, 2016 and had one year warranty. The phone became defective within the warranty period and the complainant approached an authorised service centre.
They informed that the phone was not under warranty as it was activated two years ago and demanded Rs 12,000 for repairing. With this, the complainant approached consumer forum pointing out the mental agony he suffered. The electronic commerce company contested that they provide only online marketing space to the sellers and independent customers. Their relationship to seller was compared to that of a mall which offers space for a third party seller and hence said they had no role in the issue. The complainant submitted the proof of purchase and the promised warranty. With this the commission directed both the respondents to refund Rs 24,900 and pay up a compensation of Rs 3000.
