A consumer protection court has imposed a fine on a private bank after ruling in favor of a citizen who suffered inconvenience due to a malfunctioning ATM in Karachi, according to a report.
The court directed the bank to pay Rs. 15,000 in compensation to the complainant for mental distress and loss of time caused by the incident.
As per the details, the case dates back to 2019 when the petitioner attempted to withdraw cash from an ATM. The machine allegedly failed to dispense cash and also retained his bank card, causing inconvenience and embarrassment to the customer.
During the proceedings, the court noted that the withdrawn amount and associated service charges had already been refunded to the complainant. However, it ruled that the ATM malfunction and retention of the card still constituted a deficiency in service.
The court also dismissed the bank’s objections regarding jurisdiction, stating that the customer remained entitled to compensation despite receiving a refund of the transaction amount.
In its verdict, the court held that the bank was responsible for compensating the petitioner for mental anguish and wasted time caused by the faulty ATM service.
