Gym mgmt fined for deficiency in service, unfair trade practice

Chandigarh, June 26

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh, has directed a gym, operating under brand name “The Code Fitness”, to pay compensation to a city resident for deficiency in service. It has also directed the gym management to refund the fee for the period when no service was provided to the consumer.

Ujjwal Sood, a city resident, approached the commission alleging that the management closed the gym and did not refund the fee for the period when it did not provide the services.

Sood said he took gym membership from August 29, 2019 to August 27, 2020, after paying Rs15,000. The management later informed him that it was not able to provide services w.e.f. January 15, 2020, and offered to refund the balance amount.

Sood said on January 16, he applied for the refund. However, despite requests, the management failed to refund the remaining amount. Despite notices, no one from the gym management appeared before the commission.

After examining the records, the commission in its order said the act of the gym management in not providing proper services and thereafter not refunding the balance amount to the complainant proved deficiency in service and unfair trade practice.

The commission said the complainant made a lot of efforts and also shared his bank account to get the refund, but the management failed to do the needful. In view of this, the gym management was directed to refund Rs7,870 to the complainant, along with interest @ 9 per cent per annum w.e.f. February 16, 2020, till realisation. It also directed the management to pay Rs3,000 as compensation for causing mental agony and harassment and Rs3,000 as cost of litigation to the complainant. — TNS