Non-replacement of wrong product: Consumer forum slaps Rs 1 lakh penalty on Flipkart

Team Udayavani, Oct 11, 2019, 4:15 PM IST

Shivamogga: A consumer court in Shivamogga slapped a Rs one lakh penalty on Flipkart for failing to replace a wrong product delivered to its customer despite several requests.

The petitioner, Vadiraraja Rao had ordered for an SG Player Edition English Willow Cricket Bat valuing Rs 6,074 choosing cash on delivery mode in 2017. He received the parcel on April 10, 2017 but found that it contained a black coat instead of the cricket bat.

Later Rao sought replacement of the product with the e-commerce major. However after Flipkart failed to replace the product despite repeated requests he took up the matter with the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum on May 13 this year.

Observing that Flipkart was guilty of deficiency in service towards the customer, a bench of the forum comprising C M Chanchala and Manjula H directed Flipkart to deliver the right product to the petitioner in six weeks and pay Rs 50,000 compensation for the mental agony the consumer went through and expenditure the consumer made towards the petition.

If Flipkart and other respondents fail to pay the compensation, they will have to pay the same with an annual interest of 10 per cent.

The forum observed that Flipkart and other respondents followed unethical practices and cheated the customer. Hence, the forum also asked the respondents to remit Rs 50,000 towards Consumer Forum Welfare Fund within a week.