It was during 10/09/2013, I purchased a 21" 21F30 Model Akai Television from Sri Ram Home Needs, Yadavole Road, Devarapalli-534 313, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh having APGST No. ELR/03/01/1929 and claiming himself as an Authorized Dealer for Akai Television. While purchasing he provided me with a Warranty card bearing S.I.No.GBA010413X03264 which provides for product warranty for one year from the date of purchase and contains the Toll Free number and email id of the Manager Customer Care. While it was so, it was during 15th of this month, the display of the Television has been off thus forcing me to search for the customer care numbers provided on the warranty book let as well as Akai Website. To my astonishment, none of the numbers provided on the warranty booklet including the website address of the Akai are not functioning. I tried to contact the number they provided at guregoan which at last responded but to my dismay informed me that the number belongs to Videocon which used to provide after sales service to Akai products until the year 2000. They also informed me that the product what I was possessing is no more in circulation as the company has withdrawn the model and quite their operations from India. They asked me to contact the Dealer as there is a possibility of cheating by selling counterfeit television in the name of Akai. When contacted, the Dealer feigned ignorance and referred the matter to one Sri Sidhi Vinayaka Electronics, Rajahmundry, quoting them as servicing agency for Akai Television. On being contacted, the owner of the said servicing agency talked foul saying that they do not bother about the warranty of Akai as the company is no more in India and they will attend to my complaint only after one week provided I promise to pay Rs.250 towards visiting fee and further amounts for replacing the spares if any. Further, he told that he cannot assure anything about the TV as it can be repaired only if the spares are available otherwise, I need to throw it out. I am really taken aback and eplored the net for the whole night which provided me deep insight about a mafia which is working behind counterfeiting the withdrawn models of AKAI TV sets and selling to the gullible customers under fake bills and warranty cards. They are entering into an agreement with some local mechanic and whenever they receive some minor complaint they are referring the matter to the mechanic and in respect of major complaints, the customer is left to the fate. This is purely a criminal act in which I feel a lot of hands are involved and in the process lakhs of gullible customers are getting duped while the Government is losing crores of rupees in the form of taxes. Kindly suggest how to go about to claim my right and to bring the offenders on to the books. What action should I take against the Dealer at Devarapalli who is said to be involved in selling this type of counterfeit TV sets and other contraband over the last 3 years duping several customers. Was this information helpful? |