HYDERABAD: A water purifier company has been directed to compensate a consumer who was made to “spend more”. Kent RO water solutions was asked to refund an amount of Rs 46,000 for failing to deliver on its promise, and pay a compensation of Rs 30,000 for causing mental agony and torture to the consumer. The complaint against the company dates back to July 2017 when Vijay Deshpande, a resident of Beeramguda, had to put up with a faulty water softening machine installed in his home worth Rs 46,000. Usually, such machines are used when water in the locality is loaded with excess amounts of minerals and not advisable for regular usage.
Six months after the product functioned normally, the machine stopped working all of a sudden and the water was not getting softened as was claimed by the company and Vijay had to complain regularly to the company but to little avail. “We could feel the hardness in the water. While scales started to form in the water pipelines and the intensity of water flow reduced. Besides, we had to deal with skin irritation and hair loss,” said Vijay Deshpande, the complainant.
After a year of purchase, the company stated that the resin, a water softening apparatus, was damaged and had to be replaced which cost Rs 15,000.
Meanwhile, the company, in its response, stated there was no manufacturing defect. However, the district forum observed that the company could not prove its point while Vijay, through lab reports, proved that the water softener was not functioning.
Panel not to hear pleas
State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission that hears pleas both from the consumers as well as firms will not hear matters until appointments to the vacant posts are not made. However, the commission will receive complaints as usual