Interior Design Firm Fined for Delaying Work

The Mumbai consumer disputes redressal forum has fined an architect and interior designer firm of rupees one lakh for delaying the work and abandoning it halfway. They had promised to meet a deadline which was deserted without prior notice. Consumers should definitely take such matters seriously so that such incidents do not occur again.
 Sangeetha Bhasin, 57 year old, is the owner of an optical showroom in Hiranandani Gardens in Powai. To re design her store, she gave the contract of designing and re-doing the interiors to Chandivli firm, Gurdeep Komalan and Associates. The work was promised to be completed by September, 29th 2005 as she wanted to open her shop by Dussera which falls on October, 12th 2005.
There was always delay in the work. After repeated request from the Bhasin side, the interior design firm presented her with a chart stating that the work will e completed. She even paid them an amount of 50,000 Rs even before half the job was done. When she sent them a mail on September 21,2005 regarding the completion of work, they deserted the work midway. She had to hire another firm to complete the task. She had to hire another consulting architect to assess the quality and the quantity of work that was done by the previous firm as well as the loss it had caused her.
Bhasin filed a consumer complaint against the interior designer firm. In her complaint, she wanted compensation for the losses and also wanted the money to pay the other firm. Gurdeep Komalan and Associates fought the case, stating that it was Bhasin’s unclear mind which delayed the work and they also claimed that she was constantly interfering with the work. The also blamed the weather and denied the fact the supervisor was hardly at the work site. They did not have enough evidences to back up their claims. There was no proof to state that Bhasin’s change of plan had anything to do with the delay of work.
The forum presided by JL Deshpande awarded Bhasin a compensation of Rs 50,000 for the loss of business and an additional 30,000 for the mental agony that she had to go through and also all the stress and hardship she had to face. Even, an additional amount of Rs 15,000 was awarded for the litigation cost.
These kinds of incidents, tells consumers that they are not alone when it comes to facing such problems. They should stand up for themselves and fight for their rights. When issues are handled the right way then justice will definitely be served. Sangeetha Bhasin did what she had to do to avoid the losses faced by her because of such irresponsible firms.

About these ads