Hyderabad Consumer forum orders Livespace Home Interior Designs to pay Rs.1,07,426 for negligence

HYDERABAD: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission Rangareddy has ordered Livespace Home Interior Designs E Commerce Pvt. Ltd to pay Rs.1,07,426 for causing mental agony to a Hyderabad customer due to their negligence.

Mukesh Katipamula (29), a resident of Pragati Nagar and owner of a villa at Bachupalli in Medchal-Malkajgiri district, contacted Livespace Home Interior Designs E Commerce Pvt. Ltd in August 2018 to get the interiors of his house done. Technicians visited the house, took measurements, and agreed to complete the interior work, including a false ceiling, wardrobes in all three bedrooms, TV partition, modular kitchen, staircase, storage, etc., for a total amount of Rs. 15,19,135.

They assured that the total work would be completed within 45-60 days. The complainant, Mukesh Katipamula, paid an initial payment of Rs. 1,39,000 on October 31, 2018, Rs. 2,00,000 on February 1, 2019, Rs. 1,97,548 on February 1, 2019, Rs. 2,23,020 on February 1, 2019, Rs. 1,11,510 on May 18, 2019, Rs. 1,11,510 on July 30, 2019, and Rs. 1,36,548, Rs. 2,00,000, and Rs. 2,00,000 on November 21, 2019, totaling Rs. 15,19,136 paid to Livespace Home Interior Designs E Commerce Pvt. Ltd. All transactions were done online, and Livespace Home Interior Designs E Commerce Pvt. Ltd issued receipts for the same.

They even provided a copy of the complete project details, including the project details, scope of work, floor plan design, and bills of quantity, and started the interior work in March 2019. However, Livespace Home Interior Designs E Commerce Pvt. Ltd did not complete the interior work within the stipulated period of 60 days.

In June 2019, Mukesh Katipamula observed some differences in the TV partition and immediately informed the opposite party, who assured that they would rectify the problem. The doors of the washroom were described as sliding doors in the plan, and the bill was calculated and paid for the same, but a normal push-type door was installed.

Mukesh Katipamula had to pay an extra amount to a third-party vendor to finish the false ceiling work to the extent of Rs. 40,000. Though Mukesh Katipamula started the work in March 2019 and promised to finish it by September 8, 2019, on the said date, they did not hand over the house and stated that they lacked manpower and technicians to complete the work, promising to finish it by October 17, 2019.

Later, they again postponed it to December 12, 2019, but did not finish the interior work to date. Though wardrobes and modular kitchen were completed, they were completely different from the original plans, and they damaged one of the two phases of electricity, and the semi-finished interiors already started to break, with materials of poor quality used.

Mukesh Katipamula's father, a senior citizen suffering from heart problems, who visited the house for daily inspection, also suffered health problems due to the inaction of Livespace Home Interior Designs E Commerce Pvt. Ltd.

Therefore, Mukesh and his family were unable to utilise the house due to incomplete interior works, could not rent it out, and suffered huge financial losses. The improper service of Livespace Home Interior Designs E Commerce Pvt. Ltd amounts to a deficiency in service and unfair trade practices. Hence, Mukesh approached the commission with this complaint seeking redressal.

Livespace Home Interior Designs E Commerce Pvt. Ltd filed their written version, denying each and every statement, submission, and contention set forth in the complaint.

They even demanded to dismiss the complaint, saying that Mukesh grossly failed to show any deficiency or lack of service on the part of Livespace Home Interior Designs E Commerce Pvt. Ltd. They also alleged that the delay was completely Mukesh's fault, as he took collaborative time in choosing the wallpaper even after multiple reminders from Livespace Home Interior Designs E Commerce Pvt. Ltd.

During oral submissions, Livespace Home Interior Designs E Commerce Pvt. Ltd submitted that the entire work, including all installations, were completed at the project site by December 12, 2020, except for minor snags and cleaning work. However, they alleged that the works were further delayed as Mukesh did not allow the workmen to enter the premises to clear the same.

The court noted that Mukesh filed a memo on July 26, 2023, along with a quotation form for various works with an estimation of Rs. 3,56,100, and the quotation is valid for only 15 days from the date of submission. Livespace Home Interior Designs E Commerce Pvt. Ltd stated in the memo that they will either redo the work or refund Rs. 1,07,426 if Mukesh is unsatisfied with their completed work.

Hence, the commission, after perusing the material carefully and after hearing both parties, directed Livespace Home Interior Designs E Commerce Pvt. Ltd to pay Rs. 1,07,426 to Mukesh as admitted in their memo dated October 17, 2023, along with nine percent interest from the date of filing the complaint until its realisation, along with Rs. 10,000 towards the costs of the complaint within 45 days of the order.