Disgruntled consumer’s perseverance pays off

The Johor Bahru Tribunal for Consumer Claims today turned down a full refund claim made by a claimant here yesterday.

Tribunal President, Mohd Nasrim Mohd Salleh instead ordered the product distributor to improve the product by refurbishing it at its own cost not exceeding RM1,00o.

Relating the incident , housewife Chin Chan Fern, 50, said she received a electronic leather massaging chair as a present from her late husband in March 2008.

She said her late husband bought the electronic leather massaging chair in Penang for RM3,999 .

But after only a year of use, the leather material of the electronic massaging chair starts to peel off.

“I have no way in knowing how to refer the problem to the shop who sold the item as the warranty card and official receipt was not with her and furthermore her husband passed away in July 18, 2009”, said Chin.

One day, I visited the similar electronic leather massaging chair promotion fair in Plentong and seek assistance from the sales staff regarding the problem but my complaint was not entertained.

Finally in December 2010, after visiting another similar product promotion fair in Johor Bahru, I have managed to obtain the distributor information and contacted them, she said.

Prior to this, she said the distributor did offered to refurbish the leather massaging chair at RM1,000 as the distributor claimed that the product warranty period has already expired.

She said she rejected the offer even after the distributor gave her a RM500 discount on the total leather refurbishing cost.

The Tribunal Court ordered the distributor to comply with the ruling within fourteen days from the judgement date.