A car owner appealed to Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court on Monday against a Longgang court decision, demanding compensation of 50,000 yuan (US$7,528) and a refund of service fees.
The appellant, identified as Zhou, bought a car at a cost of more than 110,000 yuan in November 2007. One week later, he paid 2,500 yuan to a local company for a security system that was claimed to be able to alarm the driver in case of theft and unauthorized ignition. He paid a service fee for three years and maintained and upgraded the device as required.
In January this year, Zhou's car was stolen and the alarm failed to function. He took the company to Longgang District People's Court, demanding the refund of 742 yuan in service fees as well as compensation of 50,000 yuan because the alarm failed to function.
The Longgang court supported his claim for the service fees, but rejected his demand for compensation because the insurance company had already paid him more than 59,000 yuan for the theft March 10.
The judge said there were a number of reasons for the failure of the anti-theft device and the direct cause of Zhou's loss was a third party who had stolen the car.
The intermediate court is yet to hand down its decision.
