The Consumer Grievance Redressal Commission in Coimbatore has ordered compensation for a newly purchased car that developed faults. The incident occurred in December 2022 when the car broke down during a journey.
Coimbatore: The Consumer Grievance Redressal Commission has ordered compensation for a newly purchased car that developed faults, highlighting the importance of consumer rights in the automotive sector.
Gurunath Vasanth, a resident of Ponnairajapuram in Coimbatore, purchased a Skoda Rapid car from S.G.A. Cars in Saravanampatti for Rs. 12.08 lakhs in 2019. The car came with a four-year warranty card valid until 2023.
On December 21, 2022, while traveling from Coimbatore to Bengaluru, the car broke down in Salem. Vasanth had the vehicle repaired at an authorized Skoda service center, incurring a cost of Rs. 50,659. Despite the car being under warranty, the dealership refused to reimburse the repair costs when presented with the bill.
Seeking compensation, Vasanth filed a case with the Coimbatore Consumer Grievance Redressal Commission. After reviewing the case, Commission Chairman Thangavel and members issued an order on October 9, stating that the refusal to honor the warranty constituted a service deficiency.
The commission ordered the dealership to reimburse the repair cost of Rs. 50,659 to Vasanth. Additionally, they mandated a compensation of Rs. 15,000 for mental agony and Rs. 5,000 for legal expenses.
This ruling underscores the significance of honoring warranty agreements and ensures that consumer rights are protected in the automotive industry.
Gurunath Vasanth, a resident of Ponnairajapuram in Coimbatore, purchased a Skoda Rapid car from S.G.A. Cars in Saravanampatti for Rs. 12.08 lakhs in 2019. The car came with a four-year warranty card valid until 2023.
On December 21, 2022, while traveling from Coimbatore to Bengaluru, the car broke down in Salem. Vasanth had the vehicle repaired at an authorized Skoda service center, incurring a cost of Rs. 50,659. Despite the car being under warranty, the dealership refused to reimburse the repair costs when presented with the bill.
Seeking compensation, Vasanth filed a case with the Coimbatore Consumer Grievance Redressal Commission. After reviewing the case, Commission Chairman Thangavel and members issued an order on October 9, stating that the refusal to honor the warranty constituted a service deficiency.
The commission ordered the dealership to reimburse the repair cost of Rs. 50,659 to Vasanth. Additionally, they mandated a compensation of Rs. 15,000 for mental agony and Rs. 5,000 for legal expenses.
This ruling underscores the significance of honoring warranty agreements and ensures that consumer rights are protected in the automotive industry.