Consumer forum fines private firm for deficiency of service

District Consumer Forum here has directed a private finance firm to pay Rs 10,000 to a person as compensation for depositing a cheque taken from him to realise dues without informing him.
Petitioner Sardar had taken a personal loan from the finance firm and had been repaying the instalments promptly.
He had also given a leaf of blank cheque to the company which could be deposited in case he defaulted in payment.
As Sardar had retired from his job, he was making arrangement to pay the balance amount of Rs 82,981.
However, the company officials without informing him about the total amount due from him had deposited the cheque which had bounced due to insufficient funds in his bank account.

He submitted that depositing the cheque without informing him about the amount due was deficiency of service.

The company had sent summons through Judicial Magistrate, as the cheque had bounced. "This is also illegal as I was ready to pay the dues," the petitioner said.
The forum also directed the company to pay Rs 2,000 towards the cost.
Forum president Deivaraj said the company was duty bound to inform the petitioner about the total due, including the principal and the interest, from him before depositing his cheque, but did not do so.