Samsung India to pay Rs 26K for selling defective fridge

The New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum observed that complainant Surender Kumar, a resident of Dwarka here, had "constantly suffered" due to the defective fridge sold to him by Samsung India.

"He has constantly suffered and could not use the machine in a comfortable peaceful manner. We hold the opposite party (Samsung India) guilty of deficiency in selling a defective refrigerator to complainant (Kumar) due to which he suffered mentally and emotionally, as if he had purchased a trouble.

"We direct opposite party to refund Rs 16,460 (the cost of fridge) and award damages of Rs 10,000, including litigation expenses," a bench presided by C K Chaturvedi said.

In his complaint, Kumar had alleged that the fridge he had bought for Rs 16,460 from Samsung India Electronics Pvt Ltd in 2005 had several problems like excessive cooling, noisy compressor, gas leakage, foul smell etc.

Despite replacement of the compressor, which was under a five year warranty, the fridge did not work properly, Kumar alleged adding that he had to repeatedly send it to the company for repairs and eventually had to buy a new one.

Samsung India in its reply had blamed Kumar for the problems in the fridge, which the forum rejected saying the company has been unable to deny the allegations made against it.