No 5G network, firm told to refund cost of mobile phone

Tribune News Service

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Chandigarh, January 18

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh, directed Xiaomi Technology India to refund the cost of a cellphone as it failed to connect to 5G technology.

Mukesh Kumar of Sector 45 said on December 18, 2020, he purchased the phone from a shop in Sector 22 for Rs 38,000. He said he was assured that the phone was 5G enabled. He said in January 2023, he came to know that the mobile phone was unable to connect to the 5G network.

The matter was reported to the service centre of the company, which replied that the mobile phone was currently not compatible with the 5G network. The complainant said the OPs concealed this fact from him. Despite notice, no one from the shop or the service centre turned up, hence they proceeded ex parte.

The counsel for the company said the standard warranty period of one year for the product expired on December 18, 2021, adding that when the product was launched in 2020, the country did not have 5G network.

After hearing arguments, the commission said it had been proven that the mobile phone was sold to the complainant with the assurance of 5G network compatibility. In view of this, the company has been directed to refund the full price of the mobile phone (Rs 38,000) to the complainant.

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