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Faulty phone: Nokia asked to shell out Rs. 67,000

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CIOL Bureau
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BANGALORE, INDIA: Nokia India has been directed by a consumer forum to pay a heavy price for seeling a 'defective' handset and later, not replace, repair it or refund its price.

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According to the complainant, Rohan Arora, the Nokia E 90 Communicator mobile he purchased in July 2007 for Rs. 37,000, didn't have good incoming and outgoing audio ever since. Apparently, he had returned the mobile to Nokia in September 2007 to replace it or repair the defect. As it turned out, the handset was replaced with an old instrument with the same issues.

The case taken up by the South-II District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum witnessed Nokia and retailer Luthra Communications being charged guilty of indulging in unfair trade practices.

"When the complainant (Rohan Arora) left the defective piece of good to its manufacturer, it was incumbent upon it either to remove its defect to satisfaction of the complainant or to refund its (mobile's) amount with interest. But opposite party 1 did not bother to resolve such genuine request of the complainant," the forum bench headed by M.C. Mehra was quoted as stating.

"Hence we hold both the opposite parties (Nokia and the retailer) guilty for gross deficiency in service and unfair trade practice and direct them to jointly and severally refund the amount of the handset amounting to Rs. 37,000 and to further pay a compensation of Rs. 25,000 for supplying a defective good and thereafter not replacing the same or to remove its defect to his satisfaction."

The bench added that Nokia should also pay a sum of Rs. 5,000 towards the cost of the proceedings.

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