LG penalised Rs8,000 for deficiency in service

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 22

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has penalised LG electronics for causing inconvenience to a customer.

The company had failed to replace the damaged panel of an LED smart TV within the warranty period. In a complaint to the forum, Sumit Kumar, 25, a resident of Mamta Enclave, Dhakoli, Zirakpur, stated that he had purchased an LG LED smart TV from Meena Electronics, Hallomajra, Chandigarh, on October 2, 2016, for Rs 27,000 with a two-year warranty.

In February 2018, the TV was found to be not working, which was reported to LG electronics, but the technician as well as customer care of the company refused to repair or replace the TV stating it to be misused operation and not covered under the warranty and demanded an amount of Rs 9,000 to solve the complaint.

After hearing arguments, the forum observed that the TV was having one-year comprehensive warranty and one-year extended warranty. It was also admitted that the panel of the TV became defective in the second year of its purchase and when it was reported to the opposite parties, they demanded repair/replacement cost of the panel alleging it to be out of warranty.

However, the extended warranty terms and conditions, so placed on record by the complainant, clearly speak out the case of the complainant.

The terms and conditions of the extended warranty clearly state that in case of any damage to the panel/module of the LED TV that shall be repaired or replaced, as per the company policy. It is also incorporated in the conditions that the company’s decision shall be final as per circumstances.

“As per terms and conditions of the warranty, the opposite parties are under liability to replace the damaged panel of the LED TV free of cost. By not following the terms and conditions of the warranty, the deficiency in service on the part of the opposite parties is writ large,” observed the forum.

The forum directed LG electronics to replace the panel of the TV with a new one, free of cost, making it fully functional. The forum also directed the opposite parties to pay a composite amount of Rs 8,000 towards compensation for causing harassment to the complainant as well as litigation expenses.

Refused to replace defective TV

The company refused to replace a defective LED smart TV stating it to be misused operation and not covered under the warranty and demanded an amount of Rs 9,000 to solve the complaint.