Consumer Court Awards Rs 70,000 Compensation Against Online Trader For Supplying Used Phone

Kochi: The Ernakulam District Consumer Disputes Redressal Court has ordered an online trader to pay compensation for deceiving a consumer by supplying a used and defective mobile phone and failing to refund the amount after taking back the product. The court imposed a fine of Rs 70,000 on Chennai-based Laptoszone in response to a complaint.

In April 2023, K.S. Mariyappan, an employee at a private company in Kochi, purchased a Samsung Galaxy S21 online for Rs 55,000. The phone was found to be of poor quality and previously used. Additionally, the ordered accessories were not provided with the phone.

Initially, the defendant refused to refund the amount but later asked the consumer to return the phone. Although the consumer sent the phone and a cover letter via courier, the defendant failed to refund the amount and allegedly threatened the consumer, as stated in the complaint.

The bench, chaired by D.B. Binu and with V. Ramachandran and T.N. Srividya as members, observed that deceiving the consumer through fraudulent means constituted an unethical trade practice and a blatant violation of consumer rights.
The court directed the defendant to pay Rs 55,000, the cost of the phone, and an additional Rs 15,000 as compensation and court expenses to the complainant within 45 days.

Adv. Sijo George represented the complainant in court.