Gati movers and packers asked to shell out Rs 46,000 for damaging property

How often does one come across minor damages to the household goods while shifting houses? 
Gati movers and packers asked to shell out Rs 46,000 for damaging property

HYDERABAD: How often does one come across minor damages to the household goods while shifting houses? Imagine finding your electronic valuables broken, kitchenware lost and a two-wheeler damaged, in transit, while being moved from one city to another. Who is to be held responsible for such loss that is very much possible when the distance to pack and move goods is 600 kilometres? Well, the onus seems to rest with the company that took up the responsibility to transport the goods.

In a recent judgment by the State consumer redressal commission, a packers and movers company has been ordered to shell out `46,000 as compensation for the loss or damages caused to a consumers’ property.

The complaint that highlighted the matter was filed by a doctor from Masab Tank, V Ravi Shankar, that dates back to February 2014. He chose Gati Kintestsu Express company to pack, unpack, load and unload home appliances, luggage and furniture from Bangalore to Hyderabad through a consignment.  After paying charges of `17,000 and `8,000 he thought that the consignment would safely reach the destination, but it didn’t. Two wooden almirahs with broken mirrors, a dented refrigerator, and a damaged motorcycle was what reached Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, the company employed a surveyor to run an estimate for the damage of goods. It declared that the damages caused were to the tune of `17,500. But, Shankar was not satisfied by the estimate as he alleged that the surveyor undervalued the damaged caused.  However, the commission took a stern view on the issue at hand. It stated that the “surveyor’s report is not a substantiate piece of evidence.”

The commission then ordered that the complainant suffered mental agony for which he had to be compensated.

It may be mentioned here that Shankar’ plea at the State commission was the first appeal after he was not satisfied with a judgment pronounced by a district consumer forum.  The company was ordered to pay `25,000 as compensation with 9 per cent interest and `10,000 for mental agony caused along with `2,000 of court charges.

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