Ludhiana: Consumer forum directs firm to pay ₹5k for deficient service
₹ 5,000 to Verma within 30 days. (HT Photo)
The complaint was filed by Vineet Verma, a resident of New Narotam Nagar, Khanna. Verma had purchased an Aquaguard Delight NXT water purifier for ₹8,799 from Amazon on January 15, 2023. Along with the purifier, he enrolled in the company's Gold AMC plan by paying ₹3,039, valid from February 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025. The AMC was supposed to cover door-to-door maintenance and repair services for the water purifier.
However, just a day after the AMC commenced, the purifier stopped functioning. Despite several complaints made by Verma via emails and customer support calls, Eureka Forbes failed to send a representative to repair the purifier. Verma sent eight reminders, followed by a legal notice from his advocate, but received no response from the company.
Frustrated by the lack of action, Verma approached the consumer forum seeking a refund of the purchase amount, the AMC charges, and compensation of ₹1 lakh for the harassment and mental distress caused. He also sought ₹15,000 for litigation expenses.
During the proceedings, Eureka Forbes failed to appear before the commission despite being served notice. As a result, the company was declared ex parte in November 2024. In its ruling, the commission observed that the company's failure to provide the agreed services amounted to an 'unfair trade practice.'
Citing Section 2(47)(viii) of the Consumer Protection Act, the commission noted that the company did not withdraw its deficient services or offer a refund, despite being given ample time.
The commission partly allowed the complaint and ordered Eureka Forbes to pay a composite compensation of ₹5,000 to Verma within 30 days. If the payment is not made within the stipulated period, the company will have to pay interest at 8% per annum from the date of the order until the amount is paid in full.
The ruling serves as a reminder to companies about their obligations under consumer protection laws and the importance of honouring service agreements.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
PWD to curb speculative bidding for projects
New Delhi: The Public Works Department has introduced a stringent measure to tackle rising non-serious, speculative bidding for projects. A key feature of the measure is the additional performance guarantee (APG). In tenders where the lowest quoted bid falls more than a specified percentage of the estimated cost, it will be treated as unworkable. The bidder will be required to submit an APG equivalent to the difference between the quoted rate and the threshold percentage. The guarantee will be over and above the security deposit. Work will be awarded to such lowest bidders only after the submission of the APG. Failure to comply within the specified timeframe will result in the cancellation of the award and debarment of the bidder, an official said. The primary goal is to eliminate speculative bidding, ensure that serious contractors participate, and improve overall efficiency and quality of public works. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Officials said the step was taken to enhance transparency and quality control in public infrastructure work. Over several months, PWD has observed a trend when certain bidders, primarily focused on acquiring tenders, rather than executing them efficiently, quoted abnormally low rates, often well below the department's estimated project costs, an official said. While such bids appear competitive on paper, they often result in delays, poor work, or in some cases, abandonment midway, he said. Minister Parvesh Verma said: "This decision is not just about financial safeguards, it's about accountability and respect for public funds. When a contractor quotes an unreasonably low amount and fails to deliver, the common man suffers due to delays. Our goal is to ensure that every rupee spent translates into durable, timely and high-quality public works." To instill greater sense of responsibility among bidders, Verma announced the APG.
News18
8 hours ago
- News18
Delhi govt to increase performance guarantee in PWD tender rules
New Delhi, Jul 30 (PTI) Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma on Wednesday said the government is set to increase the performance guarantee limit in future tenders of the Public Works Department (PWD) with an eye on timely and better execution of infrastructure projects. A performance guarantee is a clause in all tenders as per which a contractor taking up any work of the PWD deposits a certain amount depending on the project's estimated cost. 'When a contractor quotes an unreasonably low amount and then fails to deliver, it is the common man who suffers due to project delays and poor infrastructure. Our goal is to ensure that every rupee spent translates into durable, timely and high-quality public works," Verma said. According to officials, the Additional Performance Guarantee (APG) will be over and above the existing security deposit and performance guarantee requirements. This amount deposited in advance will only be returned to the bidder after the work executed is completed as per the satisfaction of the engineer in charge. 'Currently, this deposit is around one per cent of the tender cost, but we are planning to increase it to 50 per cent of the tender amount in cases where bids by the contractors are found to be abnormally low. A final decision on the increase is yet to be taken," informed a government official. According to officials, the PWD studied existing models and tender conditions in the other states of Uttar Pradesh and Odisha. 'We also looked at the Ministry of Highways and their performance guarantee, and after that we decided to make these changes. The primary goal is to eliminate speculative bidding to ensure only capable contractors participate and improve overall efficiency and quality of public works," they said. Verma has also directed that a training session should be conducted for the PWD officials and the changes in the tender be incorporated in all future tenders and internal guidelines be updated accordingly. PTI SSM AS AS view comments First Published: July 30, 2025, 20:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
Equity market volatility: Will I lose more on taxation if I switch from equity funds to liquid fund?
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of .) Switching between mutual funds—whether within the same AMC or to a different one—is not tax-free. It is treated as a redemption followed by a fresh investment , thus attracting capital gains tax. If the original investment was in equity-orient ed mutual funds held for over a year, gains are subject to Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG) tax. LTCG exceeding Rs 1.25 lakh in a financial year is taxed at 12.5% with indexation. To reduce tax impact, consider redeeming in phases over 3-5 years to utilise the annual exemption. Using direct plans of liquid funds and a Systematic Transfer Plan (STP) can lower costs and manage timing risk. Consult a CA to assess your LTCG liability and explore tax-saving options, especially if your total income is within the Rs 5 lakh slab and eligible for Section 87A rebateAs per Section 47 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, any capital asset transferred as a gift shall not be considered a transfer. Since mutual funds are considered capital assets, transferring them to your father as a gift will not be treated as a transfer and, therefore, you will incur no tax liability on this transfer. Additionally, as per Section 56(2)(x) of the Act, any property received without consideration or for inadequate consideration from a 'relative' is exempt from tax. Notably, mutual funds are covered under the definition of property, and the term 'relative', inter alia, includes a father. Therefore, the mutual funds received by your father will be considered a gift and will be exempt from tax. Consequently, neither you (transferer), nor your father (transferee) will incur any tax liability on this transfer. However, when your father subsequently decides to sell the mutual funds, he will be liable to pay capital gains tax on the sale. Please note that the cost of acquisition for him will be the same as the original cost of acquisition incurred by you (cost to the previous owner), and the holding period will also include the period from the date you purchased the mutual funds. Since the holding period of the mutual funds exceeds 12 months, the sale will result in a long-term capital gain (LTCG). Hence, on the sale of mutual funds, your father will be liable to pay tax on LTCG exceeding Rs 1,25,000 at the rate of 12.5% under Section 112A of the our expertsHave a question for the experts? etwealth@
