The South Mumbai district consumer disputes redressal forum has directed a mobile company and its dealer to hand over a defect-free mobile phone or money for the same to a consumer who was given a defective cell phone. The order, which came last week, also states that the mobile company and dealer have to pay Rs 3,000 as compensation to the consumer owing to the mental agony caused. Both the compensation and replacement handset have to be provided in 30 days.

The complainant, Umesh Ahirrao, a resident of Byculla, had purchased a ‘Samsung metro 3310’ mobile phone from Panna Mobile centre, Thakurdwar on June 2010 for Rs 4,800. After three months, Ahirrao started having trouble with the mobile phone. In his complaint to the court, Ahirrao said that the phone started hanging, had hardware problems and would automatically switch off. As the mobile phone was under warranty Ahirrao approached the manufacturer's SAP authorized service centre i.e. M/s. Samsung India Electronics Ltd.