UNA: A district consumer disputes redressal commission in Himachal Pradesh’s Una has directed a Chandigarh-based mobile shop to refund Rs 29,000 to a woman who purchased a second-hand iPhone 12 that stopped working within four days of purchase.The commission also ordered the shop to pay 9% annual interest on the amount from the date the consumer complaint was filed until realisation. It further awarded Rs 20,000 as compensation for mental harassment and Rs 10,000 towards litigation expenses.In its November 2, 2026, order, the commission observed that the shop had sold a defective handset despite providing a six-month warranty and subsequently failed to repair it or refund the purchase amount.According to the complaint, Mamta Kadyan, a resident of Rakkar Colony in Una, purchased a second-hand blue iPhone 12 from Arohi Mobile Hub, located in Sector 22B, Chandigarh, on October 27, 2023. She paid Rs 29,000 for the handset, for which the shop issued invoice number 159. The invoice carried a handwritten assurance of a six-month warranty in case the phone developed any problem.However, the handset stopped working within three to four days. Kadyan informed the shop about the problem and visited its premises on November 3, 2023, following which the shop took the phone back, promising to get it checked and repaired through an authorised person.The shop allegedly assured her that if the problem could not be resolved, it would refund the entire Rs 29,000 within 15 days. It also obtained the QR code and bank account details of her husband to facilitate the payment.However, despite repeated telephone calls by Kadyan and her husband, neither a functional handset nor a refund was provided. The shop allegedly refused to return a working phone or pay back the money on January 18, 2024.The consumer subsequently sent a legal notice to the shop, but it did not respond.During the proceedings, the complainant submitted her affidavit, purchase invoice and a copy of the legal notice as evidence. The commission noted that the invoice established the purchase price and the six-month warranty, while the legal notice showed that the shop had been informed of her grievance.The commission also noted that the shop had been duly served but did not appear before it or file a reply. It was consequently proceeded against ex parte.Holding that the evidence established that the shop had sold a defective phone and failed to honour its warranty obligations, the commission ruled that there was deficiency in service.The order was passed by commission president D R Thakur and member Anoop Kumar. The shop has been directed to make the payments within 30 days of receiving a copy of the order.