Hearing aid maker fined in Ludhiana for selling faulty device.

Ludhiana: A consumer court has ordered a hearing aid company and its local representative to refund Rs 32,000 to an elderly man for repeatedly providing him with a defective device.The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ruled that Amplifon (India) and its Ludhiana branch engaged in "unfair trade practice" and demonstrated a "deficiency in service." The company was also ordered to pay a further 5,000 rupees to the complainant, Avtar Singh, for legal costs.CHRONIC ISSUESAvtar Singh, a resident of Ludhiana, purchased a pair of hearing aids from the company in April 2022 for 32,000 rupees after his doctor recommended them. Within a month, he began experiencing problems with the devices. The company replaced them in July 2022, but the new set also proved to be faulty.The complainant reported that the device produced a loud humming sound, which caused him to suffer from high blood pressure. Despite his repeated complaints, the company failed to provide a functioning replacement, leaving him with no option but to file a formal complaint with the consumer commission.THE RULINGAmplifon failed to appear in court, and the case proceeded without their defense. The commission, led by president Sanjeev Batra and member Monika Bhagat, found that the company's actions constituted an unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act.The commission's order requires the company to refund the full price of the hearing aids and pay an additional 5,000 rupees for the mental stress, harassment, and financial loss suffered by Avtar Singh.