Woman Wins Rs.45000 For Damaged Saree From Dry Cleaner
A woman won ?45,000 in compensation after her expensive Banarasi sari was damaged by Band Box dry cleaners, highlighting the importance of keeping receipts for costly garments.
A 57-year-old woman from Bengaluru, Anuprabha Bhat, had dreamed of wearing a beautiful Banarasi silk sari on her son’s wedding day. To make the occasion even more special, she purchased the sari for ?33,000 from Delhi. However, her joy turned to disappointment when she received the sari back from the dry cleaners, Band Box, completely torn.
In December 2022, Anuprabha sent three silk saris, including the new Banarasi one, to Band Box’s Jayanagar outlet for washing and pressing. After paying ?1,770 for the service, she was shocked to discover that the sari had been severely damaged. She immediately complained to the store, but instead of offering an explanation or compensation, Band Box issued her a new bill.
Anuprabha demanded a full refund for the damaged sari, and an employee assured her that she would be reimbursed by January 2023. However, despite several visits to the store, numerous emails, and phone calls, Band Box ignored her requests. In December 2023, Anuprabha sent a legal notice, but the company failed to respond.
With no other options left, Anuprabha filed a case with the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission on 26th December 2023. She provided evidence, including the sari’s purchase bill and CCTV footage from the Delhi store where she bought it, to show that the damage was caused by Band Box’s negligence. She claimed that the company’s untrained staff mishandled the expensive garment.
In its defense, Band Box argued that the pressing was done by an automatic machine and claimed the sari was not new, alleging that the damage was due to poor-quality fabric.
After reviewing the case and examining the damaged sari, the court concluded that the damage was indeed caused by Band Box’s poor service and negligence. The court ordered the dry cleaners to pay Anuprabha ?25,000 as compensation for the sari, along with 6% annual interest from the filing date. Additionally, Band Box was ordered to pay ?15,000 for causing emotional distress due to the delay in addressing the issue, as well as ?5,000 in legal costs.
This case serves as a reminder to always keep the bill when buying expensive clothes. If your laundry service damages them, you can claim compensation and get justice.
