Tata Motors, auto dealers told to pay Rs 57,000 to complainant

Ishrat S Banwait

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 26

Charging a city resident for repairing his car within the warranty period has cost Tata Motors and auto dealers dearly. The consumer forum has directed Tata Motors Private Limited, Banarsi Dass Automobiles Limited Panchkula, Berkley Tata Motors, Industrial Area, Phase II, Chandigarh, and RSA Motors, Chandigarh, to pay Rs 57,000 to Pawan Kumar.

The complainant had purchased a Tata Indigo Manza Aura car on September 14, 2012, from Banarsi Dass Automobiles. He was given four years warranty on the vehicle which included extended warranty. Kumar claimed that the tyres worked for just 10,000 to 12,000 km and the brake pads had to be changed every 10,000 km. The engine and the doors started making unnatural noise over time and Kumar approached BerkleyTata on September 21, 2015, as Banarsi Dass had left the agency by then.

Berkley replaced the engine chain set but took Rs 3,500 as settlement amount. However, the defects were not removed and on November 21, 2015, he again went to Berkley regarding leakage of oil. He was given a repair estimate of Rs 40,500. Even though the car was under the extended warranty, he was charged Rs 26,596.Once again on December 26, 2015, the complainant noticed smoke coming out of the silencer, and took it to Berkley who told him that the turbo charger of the car was not working and need to be replaced for which it raised demand of Rs 45,000. Similarly, Kumar had to visit them multiple times and claimed to have spent Rs 36,000 in all.

The respondents claimed that they serviced Kumar's car to his satisfaction and that there was no deficiency on their part. The forum observed that charging the consumer on 50-50 basis even though he had the extended warranty is unjustified.

The forum, thus, asked the respondents to refund Rs 35,190 to Kumar along with the compensation of Rs 15,000 for causing mental and physical harassment and litigation cost of Rs 7,000. In case the opposite parties fail to comply with the order within 30 days, they shall also be liable to pay additional compensatory cost of Rs 20,000 to Kumar, the order adds.