Compensate buyer for faulty car, dealer told

The Central Mumbai Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum has directed Skoda Auto India Pvt Ltd and a dealer of Skoda cars to either provide a new car or return the car's entire cost, Rs 10,61,556, with nine per cent interest from 2016 to a consumer who was sold a faulty car. Further, the forum directed them to cough up Rs 25,000 towards the complainant's mental agony and Rs 10,000 towards his litigation charges.

Reuben Buthello, a Kurla resident, purchased a Skoda car from a Prabhadevi-based dealer in March 2014. The car faced engine problems on four occasions between May and November 2015, and even after repeated repairs, the company failed to identify the defect. The consumer thus asked for a replacement. However, he was neither given a refund nor a new car. Aggrieved, he approached the forum and filed a case.

The forum asked the company and its dealer to file their say, to which the company held that the transaction had taken place between the dealer and the complainant and thus it was not liable to pay for the losses. Whereas the dealer held that there was no deficiency and thus the plea should be dismissed.