Dell to refund cost of faulty laptop, asked to compensate user

A District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum here has directed Dell India Pvt Ltd to pay the cost of a laptop and Rs 5,000 compensation to a customer for selling a defective system, observing that "it is a case of unfair trade practices".
"The laptop was defective right from the beginning of its sale. In these circumstances, it is a case of unfair trade practices and the complainant deserves not only the refund of the cost of the laptop but also compensation on account of harassment and mental agony," forum observed while considering the plea of north Delhi resident Satyendra Jeet Yadav.

"What is the use of such goods or articles if they lose their utility within a period of one year, or after a period of one year," the forum headed by Justice Anwar Alam asked Noida-based Dell India Pvt. Ltd.
"No trader or the manufacturer can take shelter under the garb of warranty period if the article or the goods are later on found to be suffering from manufacturing/inherent defects," the forum, also comprising members Justice Bariq Ahmad and Promila Seth, observed.
Yadav had purchased a Dell laptop paying Rs 30,600 on May 5, 2014 with one year warranty. The system encountered its first complaint within 60 days of purchase which was rectified by the company, the plea said.

The petitioner stated that in January 2015, the laptop developed troubles with its hard disk and even after repeated intimations, the company representatives failed to turn up and rectify the error.
The company, however, submitted that when the first time the complainant approached it with the problems in laptop, it was resolved but the second time when he approached, the lines were closed and the issue was not registered.
The company had also alleged that the complaint was filed without any cause of action but in order to extract money in form of compensation.