HTC India, service centre to repay mobile user for negligence

A District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum here has directed HTC India Pvt Ltd and one of its service centres to refund the cost of a mobile handset and Rs 8,000 compensation to a customer after noting that there was "negligence and deficiency" in service.
"They did not return the mobile handset (given for service) till today. The complainant is deprived of his valuable right to use the mobile handset. He has also suffered loss of mobile handset.
"Therefore, there is negligence and deficiency in service on part of HTC Service Centre and HTC India Pvt. Ltd," the forum headed by its President R S Bagri observed.

"The complainant is entitled to Rs 16,000 as cost of mobile handset. He is also entitled for compensation for mental agony, pain, harassment and litigation expenses," the forum, also comprising members Puneet Lamba and Urmila Gupta, said.
The forum directed the Janak Puri-based Harkishan Gallery and Service and Gurgaon-based HTC India Pvt. Ltd. To pay Rs 8,000 as compensation.
According to the complaint, west Delhi resident Gulshan Kumar purchased the HTC mobile phone on April 20, 2015 which developed a technical fault on August 9 last year.

In his statement, Kumar said he gave the phone to the service centre which informed him that the handset has to be sent to the company for repairs and the company will inform about the charges.

The mobile, which was within warranty, was not given back to him as he did not pay the repair charges of Rs 7,803.
Neither the mobile company nor the service centre rebut the claims of Kumar and the forum held that they are jointly and severely liable to pay the amount.