Publisher took Rs 8,000 but ‘never published’ book, Punjab advocate wins Rs 23,000 payout

In a recent decision by the Amritsar District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, a publication company has been ordered to refund Rs 8,000 and pay Rs 15,000 in compensation to an advocate who never received the book he had paid for the publishing of. The advocate, who approached the company in October 2024, had promised a full publishing package for a total payment of Rs 8,000, which included ISBN processing, design, printing, and online listing.

The advocate made two payments of Rs 4,000 each on October 10 and October 17, 2024, based on assurances that the book would be printed and delivered within 15-20 days. However, the company failed to fulfill any part of the agreement and ignored repeated communications from the advocate. The commission found the company's conduct to be deficient in service, as the advocate made multiple follow-ups via phone calls, WhatsApp messages, and emails, but received no satisfactory response or performance of contractual obligations.

The commission ordered the company to refund the Rs 8,000 with interest at a rate of 6 percent per annum, along with Rs 15,000 in compensation and Rs 5,000 for litigation expenses, within 45 days.