HYDERABAD: The Medak District Consumer Forum has directed a safety equipment supplying company to pay a compensation of Rs 10,000 for failing to address the grievance of a customer and to refund Rs 28,350 for selling substandard gloves.
K Praveen Kumar runs his own business of supplying industrial safety material in Medak district. On November 21, 2014 he placed an order via email for purchase of 1,200 pairs of hand gloves (latex-coated heavy duty with grip) from National Manufactures, Rajkot (Gujarat) and deposited the required amount into the seller’s bank account. On December 7, 2014 he received the consignment and was shocked to see that the material used in the gloves was of substandard quality and did not meet the description given.
He tried to contact the seller via telephone but in vain. He even issued a legal notice which was returned undelivered.
Kumar filed the present complaint in consumer forum praying for refund and compensation. The opposite party, National Manufacturers remained ex parte.
The bench observed that on being disappointed, the buyer made every attempt to voice his complaint to the supplier but could not reach him.
“Responsibility does not end by merely taking the cash. If the client is unhappy with the product, he has every right to say so and expect a solution. By evading responsibility the opposite party has acted very unreasonably. The attitude of the opposite party certainly attracts the provisions of Consumer Protection Act,” the bench said.
The bench passed an order directing the opposite party to pay a sum of Rs 28,350 towards the amount spent on the gloves, Rs 10,000 towards compensation and Rs 5,000 towards costs.