CHANDIGARH: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum directed Dynamic Motors, Chandigarh, to pay Rs 55,000 as compensation for raising a hefty bill for repair of vehicle when it was in warranty period. They were also directed to repair the vehicle without raising any bill.
Complainant Parbhat Singh, a resident of Sector 26 in his complaint stated that on February 9, 2012, he had purchased Chevrolet Beat car from them. The car came with a warranty period of three years from the date of purchase or till it completes 1,00,000 kms.
He said that first service was done on April 14, 2012 at 5188 kms and second on July 5, 2012 after coverage of 10,034 kms. On September 10, 2012, when the vehicle was taken for service, the complainant was told that there were defects in the car and a bill of Rs 6,548 was raised by the firm. Thereafter, the vehicle was repaired on multiple occasions and bill was paid every time, even as the vehicle was in warranty period.
However, on October 12, 2013, when Singh from travelling from Hamirpur to Chandigarh, his car broke down midway. He took the car to a local mechanic there who estimated the cost for repair as Rs 27,000. He then got the vehicle repaired from Dynamic Motors who raised the bill of Rs 55,075. However, reasons were not explained by the dealer as to why the bill was raised when the vehicle was under warranty period of three years. Stating manufacturing defect, the complainant asked for refund of the vehicle.
The dealer in its reply stated that service of the vehicle was not got done as per schedule. Further it was stated that the vehicle had already covered a distance of 40,147 kms and there was break down in the vehicle due to some damage and the bill of Rs 55,075 was raised and it was completely repaired on November 30, 2013, but the complainant had not taken the delivery of the vehicle. As such, he is liable to pay the parking charges of Rs 250 per day. It was also stated that the present consumer complaint had become time-barred.
Forum after hearing both sides stated that date of purchase of the vehicle was February 9, 2012 and date of last bill was raised on February 9, 2014. “This shows that period of around two years had expired and not that of three years which was the prescribed period of warranty as per terms and conditions. It had also not covered the distance of 1,00,000 kms,” the forum added.
Forum concluded that since the vehicle was within the warranty period, the bill of Rs 55,075 should not have been raised. As such, there has been deficiency in service on their part. It was true with the repeated carrying out of repairs and other parts, a lot of mental tension appears to have been caused to the complainant, therefore, he is entitled to be compensated accordingly.
They were then directed to pay up.
