CHENNAI: A consumer forum has directed Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (Chennai Telephones) to pay Rs. 5000 as compensation and costs of Rs. 1000 to an advocate.

K. Vijayakumar of Triplicane complained to the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (South) that for nearly a year from September 2001, he did not receive the bill. When he contacted the authorities, they replied that the bill was despatched to a wrong address and that the mistake would be rectified. He obtained a duplicate copy and paid the bill through demand draft as the authorities refused to receive cash.

Due to the department's "negligence," he was deprived of knowing the exact meter reading, he said. Later, he received a bimonthly original bill wherein a late payment charge of Rs. 70 was levied. He made the entire payment and issued a legal notice seeking adjustment of the payment in future bills. Subsequently, the department started sending the original bills to the wrong address again. BSNL submitted that due to an inadvertent mistake, the bills were sent to a wrong address and hence the shifting charges were claimed wrongly. The mistake was rectified in a bill sent to advocate.

The department accepted cheque payment also for duplicate bills provided the same was made within the pay-by date. Steps were being taken to adjust the shift and late payment charges in future bills.

The Forum Bench comprising R. Aparna, president, and V. Sheeba and J. Kadirvel, members, said BSNL made the refund only after complaint was filed.

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