[Resolved]  Popular Automobiles - Maruti Car 800 - 5 Speed — Bad service & Higher bills

From,
Ravindranathan.K,
63/8, CPWD Quarters,
Thirumangalam, Anna Nagar,
Chennai – 600 040.
[Mobile No.[protected]]

To,
Whomsoeveritmayconcern.

Sub: Complaint against M/s Popular Automobiles, Chennai – Reg.
…

I am Central Government Staff in Ministry of Corporate Affairs, presently working with the Office of the Official Liquidator, High Court, Madras. I have bought a Maruti 800 Car bearing No.TN 07 R 2182 through the True Value division of M/s Popular Automobiles, Saligramam, Chennai for an amount of Rs.1, 45, 000/- during November, 2007. At the time of purchase, the said agency assured that on payment of the full sale consideration, the car will be delivered in good condition. The tyres, which were already in a bad condition was changed by me & the other matters to make the car in good condition was under taken by the said Popular Automobiles. On payment of full sale consideration of Rs.1, 45, 000/- the car was delivered to me by the true value division of Popular Automobiles with the assurance that the same is in good condition.

Later on when I have approached the Tyre dealers (recommended by Popular Automobiles) they have informed me that there are cracks under the car, which requires repair immediately. Accordingly I have approached Popular Automobiles and they have repaired the said cracks in their body shop and returned the car in a weeks time. This incident proved negligence on their part to deliver a car assuring the same to be in good condition, where as the same was in a bad condition.

At the time of purchase of the said car they have assured three free services within a year from the date of purchase. As the car was used by me very sparingly, I have done only two service in one year and though I have requested with them, they refused to do another service. They have done the 1st & last service but not the second service. On both the times, I have complained about the over heat of the engine as showed by the meter. On both the times the persons who attended the vehicle told me that there is absolutely no problem with the engine heat.


During the first week of February, while driving the car I notices that the meter showing the engine heat was showing the heat on the higher side & I approached Popular Automobiles with the said complaint. The Complaint was attended by one Mr Rahul, Service Advisor, who after examining the vehicle told me that the Radiator is to be changed for which the approximate cost is Rs.2, 300/- for which I have agreed. He said as the radiator is to be changed it is better if the engine is cleaned & decarbonised for which the cost will be around Rs.1, 800/-. I have agreed for that work also, thinking that altogether it may not exceed Rs.5, 000/-.


Popular Automobiles took four days time to do the above said work, and to my surprise, on the date of delivery, they have informed me to pay an amount of Rs.10, 110/-. When asked for the details they said that I have already agreed orally for the above said amount. Immediately, I contacted Mr Rahul, the Service Advisor & he said he is on the way to his native place and the bill amount will come to the amount informed to me by Popular Automobiles. This is a clear evidence that M/s Popular Automobiles is in the habit of misleading the parties about the approximate expenses to be incurred by them for service. In this case also I was expecting the amount of service bill to be around Rs.5, 000/- approximately, where as I was forced to pay Rs.10, 110/- at the time of delivery of the vehicle. Immediately I thought of sending a mail to you regarding this. But later on I have changed my mind & decided to ascertain the service expenses specifically from the above said agency before giving the vehicle for service.

After the above said service the very next day, when I was travelling a short distance with my family, all the persons who were in the car felt about a sound coming from the front left side of the vehicle. As we have noticed the same, I immediately brought the car back to my residence & informed Mr.Rahul, Popular Automobiles, who in turn said that may not be a big problem. He also informed that they have cleaned the shock absorbers so that there is chance of hearing the sound if the shock absorber on the front left side is not properly seated. I have not driven the vehicle after the said conversation & as I was not in station, I contacted Mr Rahul again on 07.03.2009 for rectification of the above said complaint. This time also Mr Rahul told me that he is in his native place & to contact one Mr Roshan at Popular Automobiles.

I drove the cat to Popular Automobiles, Saaligramam, which is 5 kilometres away from my residence. Shri Santhoshkumar, a friend of mine who is residing at Quarter No.16/4, CPWD Quarters & working with Central Intelligence Bureau, Chennai accompanied me in my car. After a distance of 3 kilometres, the sound emitting from the front left portion gradually started increasing and at one point of time, I was unable to drive the vehicle. I thought of stopping the vehicle and in the meanwhile the tyre on the front left side got itself free which resulted abrupt stop of the car with sound of drum screeching on the road. My left knee struck beneath the steering portion and developed a small bulge whereas Mr Santhoshkumar fell unconscious for 10 minutes. Both o[censored]s were lucky enough to be alive and the fact is that the negligence on the part of the staff working in Popular Automobiles, Service division in tightly securing the Tyre, thereby ensuring the safety of passengers cannot be ignored. With the help of a nearby workshop men, the tyre was fitted back to its position and I along with Mr Santhoshkumar returned to our came back to our residence.

I am bringing the above said facts to your knowledge with a request to initiate an enquiry into the matter & take suitable steps so that this kind of incidents will not occur neither to me nor to any parties who approach Popular Automobiles hereinafter. In this connection, I wish to bring to your attention that the filing of a complaint by me against Popular Automobiles in this matter before the Consumer Court, Chennai is also in progress.


Yours faithfully,

12.03.2009. sd/-
Chennai. (K.Ravindranathan)