GoMechanic broke my fuel line, glued it to hide damage (Fire Hazard), and denied responsibility. Filing Consumer Court & Chargeback. Need advice.
Hi lawyers and legal experts of India, I need some guidance on a severe case of service deficiency, gross negligence, and unfair trade practice by GoMechanic and their franchise workshop (Motorades Gurgaon).
The Facts:
The Service: I booked a clutch replacement for my Ford EcoSport through the GoMechanic app. The vehicle was assigned to Motorades Gurgaon.
The Payment: The total bill was ₹28,500. Important detail: I paid this amount by swiping my friend’s HDFC Credit Card directly at the physical workshop's POS machine (billed as Motorades GURGAON IND).
Defective Primary Service: The car was returned with the reverse gear continuously sticking. The primary clutch job was not performed properly.
Gross Negligence & Cover-Up: To replace the clutch, mechanics removed surrounding engine components and broke my high-pressure fuel injector rail pipe. Instead of replacing it, they secretly pasted it back together with GLUE and returned the car without informing me.
Life-Threatening Hazard: While driving on the highway, the glue melted under pressure and heat. Petrol sprayed across the hot engine, dropping my fuel range from 66 KM to 8 KM instantly. This created an immediate fire hazard that put my life at risk.
Damages, Denial & Suppression: GoMechanic officially denied responsibility via email, claiming they "only did the clutch work." When I posted reviews on their Instagram page to warn others and raise this issue, they immediately deleted my comments to suppress the complaint. Because the car was stranded and un-drivable, I was forced to pay ₹8,276 out-of-pocket to an independent mechanic to replace the part and make it safe.
Actions Taken:
Initiated a formal chargeback dispute through my friend's HDFC credit card under "Defective Services/Services Not Provided."
Preparing to file a grievance on the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) and proceed to Consumer Court (e-Daakhil).
My Questions for this Community:
Third-Party Payment Issue: Since the payment was made using my friend's credit card, but the GoMechanic invoice and car registration are in my name, will this create a standing/locus standi issue in Consumer Court? Should my friend be a co-complainant?
Who to Sue: Should I make both GoMechanic (the aggregator platform) and Motorades Gurgaon (the franchise workshop) opposite parties in the legal notice and consumer complaint?
Claiming Damages: Beyond the ₹28,500 original fee and ₹8,276 repair cost, can I realistically claim compensation for "endangerment of life" and mental agony due to the glued fuel line? What is a reasonable amount to claim without having it dismissed as frivolous?
Bad Faith & Suppression: Does their active deletion of my public complaints on Instagram help establish bad faith and suppression of consumer grievances in Consumer Court?
Chargeback Nuance: HDFC initially asked for a "merchant refund confirmation." We clarified that this is a forced dispute for defective service, not a voluntary refund. Is there anything specific my friend needs to communicate to HDFC to ensure the chargeback isn't closed prematurely?
I have all photographic evidence of the glued pipe, petrol leak, and email trails of their denial. Any advice on structuring my legal notice or consumer court filing would be greatly appreciated.