Professional Couriers to pay Rs 2L compensation for damaging `radio wireless set’

Hyderabad: Hyderabad Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed 'The Professional Couriers’ to pay Rs two lakh as compensation to a customer for causing damage to a radio wireless set.

Complainant D Bharathi, who operates a HAM radio station, during Lakshadweep Expedition in 2007, a member from Japan, gifted her radio wireless set worth Rs two lakh.

“I wanted to send the gift item to Bangalore. Believing that the Professional Couriers is a renowned organization, I approached them to ship the gift item to Bangalore. They promised me to handle it carefully and deliver it safely. I paid Rs 1,600 as freight charges,” she said.

Contrary to the promise, Professional Couriers allegedly delivered the consignment in a damaged condition.

“I informed the opposite party through WhatsApp. I also sent the letter to the opposite party claiming Rs two lakh for the loss. But there was no response from the opposite party,” she said.

On August 20, 2018, she sent a legal notice to the opposite party seeking compensation. However, the legal notice was refused by Professional Couriers.

Later she approached Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum seeking compensation. Professional Couriers, however, failed to appear before the Forum despite receiving the notice

“The complainant was able to substantiate her case with proper evidence. It is therefore proved that the opposite party which has the obligation to deliver the consignment safely was negligent in handling it. It delivered the consignment in a damaged condition at Bangalore. It is, therefore, a deficiency of service on the part of the opposite party”, said the Forum.

Professional Couriers was asked to pay Rs two lakh towards loss sustained by the complainant for deficiency of service. Forum also slapped Rs.5, 000 penalty on the opposite party.