Pune Consumer Forum Orders Quikr To Refund Rs 93248, Pay Rs 49000 Compensation For Delay In Transfer And Re-registration Of Car

Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 9th September 2021: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Quikr India Pvt Ltd and its RTO consultant Vansh Enterprises to refund Rs 93,248 and pay compensation of Rs 49,000 for the delay in transfer and re-registration of the car.

Prashant Singh, a resident of Wagholi, had moved the forum in January 2020 through Advocate Reshma Kazi.

The complainant was working in Bangalore, Karnataka with a private bank had gotten transferred to Pune and his joining date was 25/02/2019. According to the terms of his job, his company would reimburse the relocation charges including vehicle transfer expenses, provided he applied for it within six months from the date of his joining.

The complainant brought his car to Pune after shifting and applied on the website of Quikr for transfer and reregistration of his car, through the Quikr RTO services. On 26 April 2019, he paid Rs 93,248 as various charges to Quikr and also submitted documents including some original documents, to enable the agent of Quikr to apply at the RTO for transfer and re-registration of the vehicle.

However, for the next several months, Singh kept following up with Quikr but there was no progress. He used to get replies like RTO services are not working due to technical glitches or they would do the work soon.

Finally, Singh visited the regional transport office (RTO) in September 2019 and met the agent of Quikr who reportedly told him that the company has not paid him the amount for his work.

The complainant then took back all his documents from the agent and again wrote to Quikr to return his money. However, even after repeated requests, Quikr did not refund his money, and instead each time they send general replies to the complainant stating that they will check into the matter and get back to him.

Due to the careless attitude and negligence of Quikr, the complainant is no longer eligible to claim the relocation benefits from his company, thereby causing even more loss to himself. According to the complainant, the RTO has also been issuing a fine of Rs 1,400 per month to him for the non-transfer of his car. Hence, he filed the complaint before the commission.

The commission issued notices to Quikr and its agent but they did not appear even after receiving the notices.

After going through the documents and email communications, the commission held Quikr and its agent for causing ‘deficiency’ in services rendered to the complainant. The commission held that Quikr adopted unfair trade practices by using the money of the complainant for other work.

The commission ordered Quikr and its agent to refund Rs Rs 93,248 with 9% interest per annum from 26/04/2019 till the realization of the total amount. They have to also pay Rs 14,000 for the fine imposed by RTO for the delay in transferring the vehicle.

The Commission has also asked to pay the complainant Rs 25,000 compensation towards mental agony and Rs 10,000 towards litigation cost.