Advt firm fined for fake coupons

A Delhi consumer court fined an advertising company Rs 10,000 for issuing false dinner coupons to a customer. Sumit Saxena reports.

A Delhi consumer court fined an advertising company Rs 10,000 for issuing false dinner coupons to a customer.

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District Consumer Disputes Redressal president BB Chaudhary said, "The complainant has suffered his reputation in the presence of relatives and friends". One ML Verma, resident Laxmi Nagar filed a petition against Trove Marketing India Private Limited for having issued to him false family discount dinner coupons that could be availed at Moti Mahal Deluxe Restaurant, Ghaziabad. The incident occurred in July 2009.

"They told me coupons could be used in all restaurants of Moti Mahal Delux in NCR," said Verma in his petition.

Verma along with his family and friends went to the restaurant in November 2009 and availed the offer, but the cashier expressed inability to honour the coupons.

"They said the restaurant is no more in business with the discount coupon company. We were told that coupons were valid for a year," Verma said in the court.

He filed affidavits in the court along with his friends Tara Mishra and Vinod Kumar in support of the case stating they had accompanied him to the restaurant.

Verma on record placed letters, which he had sent to the advertising company seeking refund and compensation for his harassment. However, till date, Verma has not received any compensation.

The court ordered the company "To pay to the complainant a sum of Rs 10,000 for causing harassment and mental agony".