Consumers who are lured by newspaper advertisements in
which builders promise free sites, bumper specials, two wheelers, gold and
silver articles, often get an unpleasant surprise after they have spent their
hard earned money on such schemes. Mr. I. S. Sanaullah became a member of a
scheme offered by Classic Land Developers in Mahalakshmi Layout, to buy two
sites in their Balaji Township.
He also entered a monthly draw scheme of the firm and
won the first prize of a Maruti Omni Van. It was delivered to him in January
1997. But the vehicle was in the name of one Mr. Madhava Rao, the partner of
Classic Land Developers and it was hypothecated with Wipro Finance Ltd.,
In 1997, Mr. Sanaullajh was informed by Wipro Finance Ltd.
That Classic Land Developers has not paid 8 installments and the vehicle
would be seized and this was also informed to Mr. Madhava Rao. The vehicle was
repossessed by Wi pro Finance Ltd. After complaining to the firm, the vehicle
was given back to Mr. I.S. Sanaullah but the registration was not transferred
in his name! In 1998, Wipro Finance Ltd. informed the complainant again that
Classic Land Developers has not paid has not paid six installments and the
vehicle was again repossessed by them!
In spite of many reminders, the firm did not provide an
alternative vehicle as promised and Mr. Sanaullah finally complained to the
Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Bangalore Urban District, Classic Land
Develop- ers told the forum that since the transaction took place in 1995, the
complaint was barred by time and also that the consumer forum had no juris-diction to entertain the complaint.
Forum President M N Shankar Bhat and Member D
Nagarathnarnma ruled that it was clear that the Maruthi van was given to the
complainant under the bumper draw but it was snatched back from him because of
the default on the part of the opposite party in paying the monthly amounts.
This was deficiency in service. It ordered Classic Land Developers to pay up
Rs.72,OOO to the complainant along with Rs.2,OOO as costs within four weeks of
receiving the order.
No comments:
Post a Comment