Renowned cicketer Dinesh Karthik has reportedly approached consumer forum seeking compensation from popular automobile designer Dilip Chhabria. As per the petition, on May 2013 Karthik had reportedly paid a booking amount of Rs 5.0 Lakh for a DC Avanti car valued at Rs 35 Lakhs via the company's Chennai dealership outlet. Back then he had been promised that he avial a test drive sometime in January 2014, post which he was assured that the booking amount would be refunded in case he is unsatisfied with the car.
However, the test drive never happened in the mentioned period and after repeated reminders the company finally responded to Karthik's emails and said that test drive would be available but that would be in Pune. Karthik reportedly did come down for a test drive on May 18, 2015 and found that specifications and the driving comfort did not match the assurances given by the company. Speaking more on the occassion, Kathik said, “A consumer cannot be expected to enter any legally enforceable purchase agreement without seeing and assessing the final product, especially for something as big as a car that involves, among other aspects, safety and comfort.”
When the cricketer sought a refund, he was told that it could not be repayed as he had already taken a test drive and refund is not possible based on terms and conditions policy set up the company. When Karthik reportedly asked the dealer for the copy, the latter could not produce the signed documents. "It's not so much about the money involved as much as it is about the principle of fairness," POI was told by Kathik.
Adding to it, counsel Sanjay Pinto said, "The crux of the dispute is whether or not the conduct of the opposite party constitutes an unfair trade practice. How can one possibly expect a consumer to forfeit the entire advance when he is not satisfied with the product? No law will permit that." Further hearing in this regard shall be held on September 23, 2015 .
Source: TOI
