NEW DELHI, India: Once celebrated as a trusted brand in water purifiers and home appliances, Eureka Forbes now stands accused of systematically cheating its customers through Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) scams and deceptive policy tricks.
Across India, angry customers report being denied service despite valid contracts, charged extra for parts already covered, and misled by sudden “policy excuses” that void agreements mid-term. Many complain that service requests are routinely closed with false updates such as “technician attempted but couldn’t connect”, while helplines and escalation channels lead nowhere.
Even prominent voices have not been spared. Senior international journalist Dr. Shahid Siddiqui was recently cheated by the company despite having an active AMC. Despite repeated complaints and public posts from his verified X (Twitter) handle @shahidsiddiqui, Eureka Forbes has failed to provide any resolution.
“If my public complaints as a journalist can be ignored, what chance do ordinary citizens have? This is not service, it’s a scam,” said Dr. Siddiqui.
He further revealed that Eureka Forbes technicians have even threatened customers, warning they would “teach them a lesson” if additional payments weren’t made, despite valid AMC coverage. “They claimed my AMC was void because it was renewed after a few months’ gap. But if there was a technical fault, why was the AMC issued in the first place? Issuing the contract itself proves the system was eligible for service,” he argued.
Calling the ordeal “harassment and financial fraud,” Dr. Siddiqui said he is seeking legal action through consumer forums and government agencies to expose what he calls the company’s “double standards and deceptive corporate policies.”
Consumer forums and grievance portals are overflowing with similar complaints: contracts dishonored, families coerced into repeat payments, and customers pressured into buying costly upgrades instead of receiving the basic maintenance they paid for.
Experts warn that these practices may amount to unfair trade practices and violations of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Beyond financial exploitation, they say, the denial of water purifier services is a direct public health risk.
Once synonymous with trust and the slogan “Your friend for life,” Eureka Forbes now faces mounting outrage and urgent calls for government intervention. Unless immediate reforms are enforced, the company risks losing the credibility it once commanded.
-With Agency Input, James Schultz
