[Resolved]  Whirlpool — SERVICE PARTNER RELATED

MY REFRIGERATOR'S COMPRESSOR GAVE AWAY SECOND TIME. ON REGISTERING A COMPLAINT I WAS TOLD THAT MY COMPRESSOR IS UNDER WARRANTY AND IF IT WAS INOPERATIVE I WONT BE CHARGED FOR REPLACEMENT. I AGREED TO PAY THE CHARGES OF RS.280/- FOR VISITING AND INSPECTION. ON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND COMPRESSOR WAS INOPERATIVE. THE MECHANIC FROM THE SERVICE PARTNER CAME THE NEXT DAY. HE ASKED ME TO PAY FOR GAS FILLING (AN AMOUNT OF RS. 1000/-). ON REFUSAL HE ASKED FOR RELAY AND OLP CHARGES (WHICH WERE NOT FAULTY BUT COMPANY NEEDED TO REPLACE IT AS IT DOES NOT MAKE SAME PARTS FOR LONG - I.E. OBSCELESENCE). ON MAKING AWARE OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS MENTIONED IN THE BOOKLET, HE ASKED FOR TRANSPORTATION CHARGES. THE TERMS MENTIONED THAT WITHIN MUNICIPAL LIMITS OF A CITY WHERE SERVICE PARTNER IS LOCATED, EVEN THOSE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE PAID. THE SITUATION WAS APPRISED TO WHIRLPOOL CUSTOMER CARE (CALL CENTER) FROM TIME TO TIME BUT THEY SHOWED THEIR INABILITY TO CONTROL THE SERVICE PARTNER. FINALLY I LANDED UP PAYING RS.505/- AS AGAINST RS.280/- AS AGREED UPON. MOREOVER, THE MECHANICS AND SERVICE MANAGERS OF THE AREA THREATEN NOT TO UNDERTAKE THE JOB BEFORE AGREEING TO PAY CERTAIN AMOUNT FOR SERVICING. I HAVE REALISED THAT WHIRLPOOL INDIA LEAVES THE CUSTOMERS TO THE MERCY OF SERVICE PARTNERS AND SHOW THEIR INABILITY TO HELP OUT CUSTOMER. THE SERVICE PARTNERS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION AND NEGOTIATE WITH CUSTOMERS WITH AN AIM TO MAKE MAXIMUM BUCKS IN AN UNJUSTIFIED MANNER BY MEANS OF BARGAINING. THEY PLAY WITH THE SENTIMENTS OF THE CUSTOMER. THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS MENTIONED IN THE COMPANY MANUAL ARE NOT ADHERED TO BY THE COMPANY PERSONNEL ALSO. CUSTOMER IS LEFT OUT WITH NO OPTION OTHER THAN TO ACCEPT THEIR UNJUSTIFIED DEMANDS.