Friends

Recently I won case against reputed furniture store M/S Ahaa ([1] www.Ahaa.in) @ Bangalore. I purchased cot & 2 side-tables for 42K, August last year. To my dismay, wood started peeling a month after, I could see powder droppings, wood cracks etc. They did replacement after lot of effort December last year. Again with the new set, same issues resurfaced around Jan ‘09.

When I approached them, they just washed off their hands and told nothing is possible from their side. I approached consumer forum (after lot of written communication) and filed case. It took around 3-4 months to get resolution in my favour.

Finally Ahaa people taken back furniture and refunded the entire amount.  Two of my IIMB alumni friends Arvind Sinha & Sharada consistently supported me. Special thanks to them for motivating me to pursue the case and overcoming fear of uncertainty. I will suggest approaching consumer forum for any similar issue. Though, it is tedious process but worth getting piece of mind.

Process:

- Written communication with opposite party (Ahaa in my case) with sufficient proof

• Mode: Registered post, Fax, Lawyer notice

- Approach consumer forum with written application mentioning following details:

• Opposite party details (address & contact details)
• Your contact details (address & contact details)
• Financial claims (clear numbers, if possible break-up). For example actual amount paid, refund required, mental harassment etc.
• Case details with sequence of action corroborating your claims

- File @ the case at consumer forum (Karnataka forum - http://kscdrc.kar.nic.in/). Application to be submitted in original with 3 Photostat copies

- Hearing details & sequence of action

• 1st date: Your case & claim justification
• Case details send to opposite party by consumer forum
• Opposite party filing there version (response), You will receive copy of the same
• You file your version (response), addressing points raised by opposite party. File your affidavit (Affidavit filing is very important)
• Opposite party defending there version
• You defending your version
• Arguments
• One more argument session (I am not very sure, but in my case this happened)
• Dooms day

Few suggestions

- Affidavit is important

Lawyer is optional. If you are sure about the process, no need to hire lawyer. During first hearing, I realized most of the cases are defended by Lawyer.  I decided to hire lawyer as well. In my opinion, if somebody would have briefed on the entire process, I myself would have defended the case.