HYDERABAD: The maker of Vespa scooters, Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd and one of its dealer SPR Automobiles in Hyderguda has been directed by the district consumer court here to pay compensation of Rs 5,000 to a purchaser for selling him a bike two years ago by falsely stating the mileage of the two-wheeler.
Lured by the advertisements that Vespa will give a good mileage of 60 km per litre of petrol, Tulasi Srinivasa Rao bought it from SPR Automobiles on October 18, 2012. But, he claimed that from the date of purchase the said vehicle was giving a mileage of 32 km per litre. Time and again while giving the vehicle for servicing, Srinivasa Rao, reminded the SPR Automobiles about the problem and asked them to fix it.
Although the mechanics tried to fix the problem, the mileage of the vehicle started getting even worse in the course of time and it dropped down to less than 30-32 km. Fed up with the persistent problem, Srinivasa Rao, got a legal notice issued and requested the opposite party to return the amount and pay compensation and costs but in vain. When all his efforts proved futile, he approached the consumer forum for compensation for the mental agony he suffered.
The opposite party claimed that the Vespa vehicle of the complainant was in perfect working condition and there was no mechanical defect. According to them the said vehicle is giving 48 km mileage. They also said that the advertised mileage of 60 km per litre can only be achieved under testing conditions and requested the forum to dismiss the complaint.
As the vehicle was giving less than the promised mileage, the bench believed that there was deficiency of service or unfair trade practice on the part of the opposite party. “Although the complainant did not file any documentary proof to show that the vehicle was tested by the mechanic before filing of the complaint and the mileage of the vehicle is below 30-32 km, the opposite party in their written version, claimed that the vehicle was giving 48 km, which is less than the mileage mentioned in the brochure (60 km). This proves that there was deficiency of service or unfair trade practice on the part of the opposite party,” the bench said.
The Hyderabad-II District Consumer Forum, comprising president T Simhachalam and member P Kasturi, passed an order in favour of Srinivasa Rao, holding that there was an unfair trade practice and deficiency of service.
They directed the opposite parties to check the Vespa of the complainant and attend to the problem free of cost, to pay compensation of Rs 5,000, besides Rs 1,000 as costs of the complaint.