Consumer court orders 'Sony Centre' in Coimbatore to pay more than Rs 1 lakh as compensation to customer
Coimbatore: District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Coimbatore has ordered 'Sony Centre' in Coimbatore to pay more than 1 lakh rupees as compensation to an affected consumer.
Rohini, wife of Rajendran from Devarshola Estate near Gudalur in The Nilgiris. visited Sony Centre at Coimbatore along with her brother on 12.7.2019 at 6.50 pm to check the price and specifications of the 55 inch UHD 4k Sony TV. Sales representative Sampath at the Sony Centre attended them and explained about Sony 55 inch 4k android TV model No.X8500E was enquired. While the MRP of the TV was around Rs.1,84,000, the showroom price was around Rs.1,60,000. Due to Cricket World cup, the salesman offered a discount to the extent of Rs.3,000 if payment was done by some prescribed credit cards till 15th July 2019 and he said that would be the least price that they could fix for the television.
When Rohini checked the price of the same television on an online shopping site, the showroom personnel immediately said that Sony had announced more than Rs.50,000/-price reduction for the TV due to the World Cup Cricket celebration. Rohini then said that she might take delivery of the TV probably in a week and started to leave. At the time, she was instructed to write her name, address and mobile number in a register so that they could enquire at their head office. Then the salesperson contacted someone over the phone and informed her that the final price of the TV was Rs.1,07,790/ after which Rohini was about to move away from the showroom. Then the incharge and the sales person asked for her credit card to find out the EMI eligibility and further details. She handed over the credit card and was persuaded to type her pin number on the swiping machine despite her objection whether pin number is necessary for enquiring EMI details. Thereafter, she was shocked to find that Rs.47,000/- was taken from her credit card as payment for the television for which she came only to enquire about and not to buy. She asked the money be reversed to account as she did not have the remaining amount to pay for the TV. After a long argument, the service centre people assured the reversal would be done but said that Rs.47,000/- will be credited back to Rohini's card account only on the next working day, i.e., on 15.7.2019. Also she was charged Rs.940/- for credit card swiping and issued a receipt.
Due to this she sustained heavy mental agony and issued a legal notice to which the opposite party, i.e., the Sony Centre did not respond. Hence she filed a case in the consumer court against M/s. Sony Center, Sri i.A.N. Grand Son, represented by its Manager at 965, Avinashi Road, Coimbatore.
In this case, On October 8, 2020, District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission President, A.P. Balachandran and Member, S.Saraswathi pronounced the order.
The opposite party is directed:
To reimburse the amount of Rs.940 (Rupees nine hundred and forty only) to the complainant with an interest at the rate of 15% p.a. from 12.7.2019 till realization.
To pay interest alone at the rate of 15% p.a. on Rs.47,000 for 10 days from 12.7.2019 to 21.7.2019.
To pay Rs.1,00,000 to the complainant as compensation for mental agony and sufferings due to unfair trade practice with an interest at the rate of 9% p.a. from the date of complaint till realization.
To pay Rs.2,500/towards the cost of this litigation.
The above amount is to be paid within a period of two months from the date of this order.
Rohini, wife of Rajendran from Devarshola Estate near Gudalur in The Nilgiris. visited Sony Centre at Coimbatore along with her brother on 12.7.2019 at 6.50 pm to check the price and specifications of the 55 inch UHD 4k Sony TV. Sales representative Sampath at the Sony Centre attended them and explained about Sony 55 inch 4k android TV model No.X8500E was enquired. While the MRP of the TV was around Rs.1,84,000, the showroom price was around Rs.1,60,000. Due to Cricket World cup, the salesman offered a discount to the extent of Rs.3,000 if payment was done by some prescribed credit cards till 15th July 2019 and he said that would be the least price that they could fix for the television.
When Rohini checked the price of the same television on an online shopping site, the showroom personnel immediately said that Sony had announced more than Rs.50,000/-price reduction for the TV due to the World Cup Cricket celebration. Rohini then said that she might take delivery of the TV probably in a week and started to leave. At the time, she was instructed to write her name, address and mobile number in a register so that they could enquire at their head office. Then the salesperson contacted someone over the phone and informed her that the final price of the TV was Rs.1,07,790/ after which Rohini was about to move away from the showroom. Then the incharge and the sales person asked for her credit card to find out the EMI eligibility and further details. She handed over the credit card and was persuaded to type her pin number on the swiping machine despite her objection whether pin number is necessary for enquiring EMI details. Thereafter, she was shocked to find that Rs.47,000/- was taken from her credit card as payment for the television for which she came only to enquire about and not to buy. She asked the money be reversed to account as she did not have the remaining amount to pay for the TV. After a long argument, the service centre people assured the reversal would be done but said that Rs.47,000/- will be credited back to Rohini's card account only on the next working day, i.e., on 15.7.2019. Also she was charged Rs.940/- for credit card swiping and issued a receipt.
Due to this she sustained heavy mental agony and issued a legal notice to which the opposite party, i.e., the Sony Centre did not respond. Hence she filed a case in the consumer court against M/s. Sony Center, Sri i.A.N. Grand Son, represented by its Manager at 965, Avinashi Road, Coimbatore.
In this case, On October 8, 2020, District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission President, A.P. Balachandran and Member, S.Saraswathi pronounced the order.
The opposite party is directed:
To reimburse the amount of Rs.940 (Rupees nine hundred and forty only) to the complainant with an interest at the rate of 15% p.a. from 12.7.2019 till realization.
To pay interest alone at the rate of 15% p.a. on Rs.47,000 for 10 days from 12.7.2019 to 21.7.2019.
To pay Rs.1,00,000 to the complainant as compensation for mental agony and sufferings due to unfair trade practice with an interest at the rate of 9% p.a. from the date of complaint till realization.
To pay Rs.2,500/towards the cost of this litigation.
The above amount is to be paid within a period of two months from the date of this order.