Alka Kumari
New member
- Dealer Name
- Flipkart Internet Pvt. Ltd.
- Company Name
- Google India Pvt. Ltd.
- Product Name
- Google Pixel 7a Smartphone (IMEI: 351541495961987)
- Loss Amount
- 100000
- Ratings
- Opposite Party Address
- © 2025 Google Information Services India Private Limited | All Rights Reserved.
Google Information Services India Private Limited, Unit No. 204, 2nd Floor Signature Tower-II Tower A, Sector-15, Part-II Village Silokhera, Gurgaon, Haryana - 122001 India
To,
The Adjudicating Officer,
District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum / National Consumer Helpline
Bengaluru, Karnataka
From,
Alka Kumari
Alka Mishra
103, 3rd main, 16 th cross road , AECS layout Sanjaynagar, near Prakruthi Dental Clinic
Banglore, Karnataka 560094, India
Or
IDR Building, IISc Campus,
Bengaluru, Karnataka – 560012
Email: alkam762@gmail.com
Phone: +91 7265872443
Date: October 10, 2025
Subject: Formal Complaint Against Google India Pvt. Ltd. for Unfair Trade Practices, Negligence, and Refusal to Replace a Defective and Unsafe Google Pixel 7a (IMEI: 351541495961987; RMA: RMA98195816)
Respected Sir/Madam,
I, Alka Kumari, submit this complaint against Google India Pvt. Ltd. for engaging in unfair trade practices and gross negligence by refusing to replace my defective and unsafe Google Pixel 7a smartphone, which developed a serious battery swelling defect that poses a clear safety hazard.
I categorically state that the cracks on the display were not present when I submitted the device to Google’s authorized pickup agent. When I attempted to take photographs of the device’s condition at the time of handover, the pickup agent hurried the process and did not allow me sufficient time to document it properly. Upon receiving Google’s inspection report I was surprised to see claims of “deep cracks” and “LCD patch damage,” which were not present earlier. This raises a serious concern that the device may have been mishandled or damaged while in Google’s or their service partner’s custody, possibly to create grounds for a chargeable repair. Such conduct, if verified, would amount to gross negligence and an attempt to extract unwarranted payment from a consumer who reported a legitimate safety defect in good faith.
I have formally informed Google by email that their demand for payment is invalid given the confirmed internal battery defect and the circumstances of handover; Google’s insistence on payment before remedying a hazardous internal defect is arbitrary and unsafe.
Google India Pvt. Ltd.’s handling of this matter demonstrates disregard for consumer safety and warranty obligationsand suggests possible mishandling or opportunistic classification of damage while the device was in its custody. I therefore request the Hon’ble Forum to take prompt cognizance of this complaint, accept the attached evidence (including documents related to RMA98195816), and grant the reliefs sought above in the interests of justice and consumer protection.
Yours faithfully,
Alka Kumari
The Adjudicating Officer,
District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum / National Consumer Helpline
Bengaluru, Karnataka
From,
Alka Kumari
Alka Mishra
103, 3rd main, 16 th cross road , AECS layout Sanjaynagar, near Prakruthi Dental Clinic
Banglore, Karnataka 560094, India
Or
IDR Building, IISc Campus,
Bengaluru, Karnataka – 560012
Email: alkam762@gmail.com
Phone: +91 7265872443
Date: October 10, 2025
Subject: Formal Complaint Against Google India Pvt. Ltd. for Unfair Trade Practices, Negligence, and Refusal to Replace a Defective and Unsafe Google Pixel 7a (IMEI: 351541495961987; RMA: RMA98195816)
Respected Sir/Madam,
I, Alka Kumari, submit this complaint against Google India Pvt. Ltd. for engaging in unfair trade practices and gross negligence by refusing to replace my defective and unsafe Google Pixel 7a smartphone, which developed a serious battery swelling defect that poses a clear safety hazard.
- Details of Product and Parties
- Complainant: Alka Kumari (details as above)
- Opposite Party: Google India Pvt. Ltd.
- Product: Google Pixel 7a Smartphone
- IMEI Number: 351541495961987
- RMA / Service Reference: RMA98195816 (Google support reference: 0-0723000039863)
- Purchased from (dealer/seller): Flipkart Internet Pvt. Ltd. (invoice attached)
- Factual Background and Grievance
In September 2025, my Google Pixel 7a developed a severely swollen battery, which caused deformation of the device chassis and back panel. Recognizing the potential risk of fire or explosion, I promptly contacted Google Customer Support and submitted the device for inspection via their authorized pickup service.
I categorically state that the cracks on the display were not present when I submitted the device to Google’s authorized pickup agent. When I attempted to take photographs of the device’s condition at the time of handover, the pickup agent hurried the process and did not allow me sufficient time to document it properly. Upon receiving Google’s inspection report I was surprised to see claims of “deep cracks” and “LCD patch damage,” which were not present earlier. This raises a serious concern that the device may have been mishandled or damaged while in Google’s or their service partner’s custody, possibly to create grounds for a chargeable repair. Such conduct, if verified, would amount to gross negligence and an attempt to extract unwarranted payment from a consumer who reported a legitimate safety defect in good faith.
I have formally informed Google by email that their demand for payment is invalid given the confirmed internal battery defect and the circumstances of handover; Google’s insistence on payment before remedying a hazardous internal defect is arbitrary and unsafe.
- Legal Violations by the Opposite Party
The conduct of Google India Pvt. Ltd. constitutes violations under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, including but not limited to:
- Deficiency in service (Section 2(11)) — failing to provide warranty service for a confirmed manufacturing defect;
- Unfair trade practice (Section 2(47)) — imposing an unreasonable and unrelated precondition for warranty service;
- Violation of Right to Safety (Section 18) — selling/servicing a product that poses risk to life and property;
- Negligence and failure to exercise due care while the device was in the custody of Google or its service partner.
- Reliefs Sought (Monetary claim)
- Immediate free-of-cost replacement of my defective Google Pixel 7a (IMEI: 351541495961987) or refund of its purchase value; and
- Compensation of ₹100,000 (Rupees One Lakh only) for mental harassment, risk to life and property caused by the hazardous battery swelling, loss of use and academic disruption (I am a registered PhD student), incidental expenses, and costs of pursuing this complaint; and
- A written apology from Google India Pvt. Ltd. for negligence and harassment; and
- An order directing Google to investigate any mishandling while the device was in its or its service partner’s custody and to take corrective measures to prevent such incidents; and
- Any other relief that this Hon’ble Forum deems fit and proper in the interest of justice.
- Documents Attached (Annexures / Evidence)
- Google support email and repair estimate showing the demand for payment (RMA98195816 / support ref: 0-0723000039863). (Attached: “Google_support_payment_request.pdf”)
- Conversation transcript / chat and email correspondence with Google Support where they explicitly refused to repair without payment. (Attached: “Google_support_conversation_refusal.pdf”
- My email to Google declaring their payment demand invalid and requesting escalation. (Attached: “My_mail_to_Google_invalid_claim.pdf”)
- Image(s) of the screen showing alleged cracks (screen crack image). (Attached: “Screen_crack_image.jpg”)
- Purchase invoice and proof of purchase from Flipkart. (Attached: “Flipkart_invoice.pdf”)
- Proof of academic enrollment (PhD student ID / enrollment document) to support the claim of academic disruption. (Attached: “PhD enrollment proof.jpg”)
Google India Pvt. Ltd.’s handling of this matter demonstrates disregard for consumer safety and warranty obligationsand suggests possible mishandling or opportunistic classification of damage while the device was in its custody. I therefore request the Hon’ble Forum to take prompt cognizance of this complaint, accept the attached evidence (including documents related to RMA98195816), and grant the reliefs sought above in the interests of justice and consumer protection.
Yours faithfully,
Alka Kumari
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