Commission directs firm to refund defective laptop price

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh, has directed Dell India Private Limited, Bengaluru, and a local dealer to refund the price of a laptop (Rs 49,000) to a city resident for allegedly selling a defective piece.

Vipul Babuta, a city resident, in a complaint filed before the commission said he purchased a Dell Laptop from a shop, ST Computers, Sector 35-C, Chandigarh, on July 22, 2019, after paying Rs 49,000. At the time of purchase he was convinced by the dealer regarding its superior quality and latest technology. However, he felt disappointed as the speed of the laptop was very slow and kept on hanging whenever used.

Thereafter, he got the laptop checked from the dealer, who told him that as the machinery was new, it would take a few days to operate and perform efficiently. As the problem persisted, he requested the dealer in September, 2019, to either refund the money or replace it, but he refused and agreed to only repair the same.

Accordingly, he handed over the laptop to the dealer and collected the same on the next day and the dealer assured that he would not face any problem as the software had been reinstalled. However, the problem still persisted and the dealer again refused to replace the product or refund the money.

Thereafter, he contacted Dell India Private Limited on its customer care a number of times, but in vain. On March 15, 2020, he sent an email and in response he was

told to perform some basic updates and the complaint was closed. He again registered a complaint vide email dated May 15, 2020, with the Dell technical support, but the same was also closed by instructing him to perform some updates.

He claimed that the company admitted that the RAM installed (4GB) was of less capacity due to which the laptop was not working properly. However, instead of removing the defect, the company asked the complainant to pay Rs 6,813 to upgrade the RAM to 16 GB despite the fact that the same was having manufacturing defect from day one and was even under warranty.

Alleging that the act amounted to deficiency in service and unfair trade practice on the part of opposing parties, the complainant filed the complaint

After hearing of the arguments the commission directed the opposing parties to refund the amount of Rs 49,000.