Sale of vehicle made in 2013; Forum awards Rs 10,000 to buyer

: Describing as unfair trade practice sale of a two wheeler made in 2013 the next year to a buyer without a discount or giving details of the date of manufacture, the District Consumer forum here today directed the dealer at Srivilliputhur to pay compensation of Rs 10,000.
The Forum, which heard the petition of buyer Ayyanar,also directed the dealer Deepa Motors to pay Rs 5,000 for causing mental agony and Rs 3,000 towards cost of the case.
The man said he had approached the dealer for a particular bike, who told him they could get the two wheeler directly from the factory within a week if he paid an advance of Rs 5000. He paid the amount on Mar 12 2014.

The dealer called him the same day and told him that the bike he had asked for was available and asked him to pay the balance of Rs 67,470 and take delivery. He paid the entire amount in cash and had also Rs 540 for additional fittings.
However when the bike was taken for registration at the Regional Transport Office,the Registration certificate mentioned the year of manufacture as 2013. The dealer also had accepted this.
Ayyanar protested the deficiency of service on the part of the dealer by selling a year old vehicle and demanded a compensation of Rs.10 lakh for deficiency of service and causing mental agony.

The forum felt the dealer should have clarified that the bike was made in 2013, but had not done so and also not given him a discount, normally done for old vehicles.
They should have a discount of Rs 10,000 for selling the vehicle which cost Rs 72,470, but did not. This was an unfair trade practice.Hence the dealer was bound to pay compensation of Rs 10,000 apart from Rs 5,000 for causing mental agony and Rs 3,000 for cost of case with nine per cent interest from the date on which the petition was filed, the forum said.