CHANDIGARH: The UT consumer forum headed by Jagroop Singh Mahal has directed Modern Sales and LG Electronics India Pvt Ltd to pay the expenses to fix a dent on the refrigerator belonging to sector-23 resident Ravi Shankar Tiwari and also pay him Rs 500 as the cost of proceedings.

According to the complaint, Tiwari had purchased an LG refrigerator worth Rs 14,500 from the dealer of Modern Sales in April 2009.

Tiwari said the dealer had allegedly pasted a sticker on the fridge to conceal the dent. However, the defect came to light after the fridge was delivered to Tiwari at his residence.

The matter was immediately brought to the notice of the dealer but they did nothing to redress the grievance.

Finally, Tiwari filed a complaint claiming deficiency in services under the Consumer Protection Act.

However, despite a notice being served to Modern Sales, nobody appeared on its behalf and the matter was proceeded ex-parte.

Meanwhile, LG Electronics India Pvt Ltd in its reply stated that Tiwari did not point out the defect when he examined it at the shop.

It also stated that Tiwari reported the defect after a period of 13 days which was allegedly a result of his own mishandling.

Meanwhile, the forum held LG and its dealer guilty and stated, "No doubt, there was a gap of 13 days between the date of purchase and the complaint filed by the complainant.”

“However, the manufacturer and dealer are themselves liable for delaying the matter due to their non-cooperative attitude towards the complainant," the forum added.