Vizag: Two-wheeler company fined Rs. 40k for selling defective bike

Visakhapatnam: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I, Visakhapatnam, has directed a private two-wheeler company to pay a compensation of Rs 40,000 to one of its customers for selling a defective two-wheeler. The forum also directed the company to replace the defective vehicle with a brand new bike of the same brand.

The order came in response to a complaint filed by a 35-year-old-man from Aganampudi under Gajuwaka of Vizag city. According to the complainant, he purchased a Honda Shine BS-VI two-wheeler in September 2020 from Hamsa Motors Private Limited, Visakhapatnam for Rs. 88,000. He claimed that just a few hours after the purchase, the vehicle started malfunctioning. He claimed that after travelling about 3 kms, the vehicle started showing trouble using the gears and also started making a big noise. He contacted the showroom, where he was advised that in new vehicles with low-fuel, such conditions may arise. Owing to which, he went to a nearby petrol pump and filled 10 litres of petrol. Even after this, the problem existed.

One week after the incident, he approached the nearest Hamsa Honda Service Centre at Kancharapalem branch. The executive examined the vehicle and reported that the gearbox of the vehicle was defective.The complainant asked the showroom authorities to replace the vehicle with a new one, but the company authorities refused to do so. They said it is not possible to replace the vehicle, they can replace the gearbox.

Having doubts on them, the complainant requested a refund through the complaint against Honda Customer Care. The complainant submitted that the company's general manager named Prasad had informed him that he cannot replace the vehicle, but can provide a new vehicle if the complainant was ready to pay 50 per cent of the vehicle cost. Following this, he filed a complaint with the forum. The opposite party didn't respond to notices of the forum.

The forum, in its verdict, said the private company should pay compensation as when a customer purchases a brand new vehicle, they rarely expect technical snags to crop up at regular intervals. The forum asked the opposite parties, Hamsa Motors Private Limited and others to replace the vehicle and also to award a compensation of Rs. 40,000 for the hardship suffered by the complainant and Rs. 2,500, the cost incurred during filing the complaint.