Company told to refund customer for faulty bike

A consumer court has directed a motorcycle manufacturer and its dealer to refund a customer who developed severe pain after riding a bike with a defect.

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum at Bengaluru (Urban) accepted the customer's contention that the bike had a manufacturing defect.

Bhoopathi B, a resident of B Narayanapura, Mahadevapura, had filed a complaint against India Yamaha Motor and Panache Enterprises in Indiranagar.

Deputy manager in a private company in HSR Layout, he had bought a Yamaha FZS bike in September 2015 for Rs 98,416.

The joy of his purchase did not last long. Bhoopathi felt a shooting pain in his left arm and neck soon after he started using the bike. By the end of a week, the pain in his back had become severe.  He says he had to be hospitalised.

The problem, according to Bhoopathi, was that the bike was veering left. As a result, he had to apply pressure to keep it straight.  He left the bike at the service centre as they were unable to fix the problem.

The dealer asked him to return after a month, but the problem persisted. A second visit didn't help either. He then decided to approach the consumer forum.  The consumer forum, headed by president P V Singri, observed the problem had not been rectified even after the bike was given for service twice.

Within the period of warranty, the customer is entitled to free repair, replacement or refund, he said.  The forum ordered the company to refund Bhoopathi the price of the bike (Rs 98,416) and also pay Rs 4,000 as litigation costs.