Forum asks firm to pay up for selling defective mattress

LUDHIANA: A penalty of five thousand has been imposed by the district consumer disputes redressal forum on an individual firm for selling defective mattresses to a Dugri resident.
The forum comprising of it’s president G K Dhir and member Jyotsna Thatai, were penalized for having sold defective mattress. The complainant in his complaint to the forum on 20 August 2018 said that he had purchased two pairs of mattresses from the seller on 21 April 2018.
He added that he specifically asked for ‘Kurlon Foam Bed’ mattresses, but seller advised him to purchase mattresses of another company instead, because an assured guarantee of 12 years will be provided. As per seller, cost of two pairs of Freedom Mattresses was Rs.21,000 after with 12 years of guarantee.
After having made the purchase the amount in the bill handed over to the complainant was 1,000 lesser. On questioning about the extra money that was charged, the seller assured to return the excess charged amount but didn’t return the amount at all.
The mattresses were used by the complainant at home, but they started compressing and in some parts the mattress had even flattened. Charging of excess price of Rs.1000 alleged to be an unfair trade practice. Request for replacement of mattresses was put forth numerous times through mobile calls and even by paying personal visits to the shop of seller, but to no effect.
The seller claimed that they will inform the manufacturer about the defects in the mattresses. The complainant said that the mattress was not replaced and on the contrary the money was also not returned. Post repeated complaints, the seller sent a reply with a legal notice through their counsel. Refund of excess charged amount of Rs 1,000 claimed along with compensation for physical and mental harassment of Rs.50,000.In the written reply the seller denied allegations regarding poor quality of mattresses or resorting to unfair trade practice.