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Advocate Wins Rs 55,500 Payout in Defective Phone Warranty Case

Advocate Wins Rs 55,500 Payout in Defective Phone Warranty Case
‘Defective’ phone, warranty claim ‘rejected’, advocate wins Rs 55,500 payout · indianexpress.com

A man named Rajbir Phogat bought a brand-new phone in January 2024 for about 65 thousand rupees.

Very soon, the phone started having problems: it got too hot, calls kept dropping, Bluetooth did not work, and the network was bad.

He took the phone to the service center many times, but the problems kept coming back.

The phone company said it would not help because the phone had been changed, or 'tampered with.'

They said the camera lens and the back glass were not the original parts.

A special consumer court in Rohtak listened to both sides.

The court said the company did not show real proof, like an expert report, that the phone had been tampered with.

So the court ordered the company to give back his money and pay extra to cover his trouble and court costs.

This decision helps protect customers by saying companies must prove their reasons before they can say no to a warranty.

Key facts

Complainant
Rajbir Phogat, a 58-year-old advocate
Phone price
Rs 64,999
Purchase date
January 2024
Refund ordered
Rs 45,500
Compensation (mental agony)
Rs 5,000
Litigation expenses
Rs 5,000
Total payout
Rs 55,500
Order date
August 7

Quotes

Rohtak District Consumer Commission

Consumer protection authority overseeing warranty disputes in Rohtak

“In the absence of any reliable evidence proving unauthorised modification, the opposite parties were not justified in refusing warranty service and returning the mobile phone without rectifying the defects repeatedly complained of by the complainant. Hence, there is deficiency in service on the part of the opposite parties, as the manufacturer is liable to compensate the complainant.”
indianexpress.com

Sources

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