I bought a new Karbonn A99 mobile (IMEI # 91134530 0490023) for Rs:6800.00 on 01-Jan-2014 from Poorvika mobiles private limited, No:38, Thillai Complex, Shanmugham Road, West Tambaram, Chennai 45. Issue # 1: Within few months of purchase, the phone developed issue with the earpiece. I was left with only external earphones to attend my calls. I got this fixed from United Care (Karbonn authorized service center) in Tambaram. Other subsequent issues: In fact the phone’s external speaker was very noisy and unusable from day one. Since I do not very often use the speaker, I was living with the issue.
Couple of months down the line the mobiles’ vibrator stopped working. As if these issues were not sufficient, the rear 5MP camera stopped functioning properly and started giving me unusable green grainy pictures. Experience with Authorized service center: I contacted United Care and got my mobile checked by them. They acknowledged all my issues and claimed no improper usage of the phone on my part. They also claimed that the phone’s board is faulty and needs to be replaced. They added that they cannot do the fix at the service center and the phone had to be sent to some head office to get the board replaced. I gave my mobile to United Care on 05 Dec 2014 (JOB # KUASCTN004J2188). I was said that I will get the fix within 3 week time. From 29 Dec 2014 till this date, I am in constant touch with United Care. I am yet to get my mobile fixed. Reply from United Care has always been “Please check with us next week”. Suggestion of unfair replacement: After several weeks of repeated calls to United care, during Jan 2015, I was told by United Care that the company is offering a refurbished ‘A92 star’ as a replacement to my ‘A99’. The specifications of the suggested replacement (A92 star) was far lesser than my original A99. Though it was not an equivalent replacement, I was by then frustrated with the Karbonn after sale care and agreed for the replacement orally. I was told by United care that the replacement will be provided to me in 5 working days. Final Status: Before writing this complaint, I contacted United Care on 02 Mar 2015 and I got the same response “Please check with us next week”. I neither got my original A99 fixed nor I got the cheaper replacement A92 star.
The defective product was failing me and giving problems every now and then leaving me unable to attend my important phone calls. Expecting to get the repaired mobile from United Care, I spent the past 3 months with no proper mobile. The price i paid (Rs: 6800.00) for the mobile is a loss for me. The personal and official issues the phone created due to its inconsistent performance had created even bigger loss to my character and image.
Email Id: manikandan_m03@infosys.