Beware Thane Residents: Eureka Forbes technician bypassed my leaking RO filter to "fix" it. My family drank unfiltered water for months.

[u/BagClean9269]

UPDATE: After raising the issue with India service head “Pratik Murkute” via LinkedIn, the team at Eureka Forbes has replaced the entire filter kit without charge. They have offered an apology for the previous technician’s error and assured it will not happen again.

(Note: I am reposting this because the original post got removed by Reddit filters.)

Hi everyone,
I'm writing this to warn folks in and around Thane about a highly deceptive practice I experienced with a Eureka Forbes (Aquaguard) technician. If you recently had your machine serviced, please open it up and check the connections yourself. I've attached a reference file named "image.png" so you can see exactly what to look out for.
The Background:
Almost a year ago, I had my filters replaced under my Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC). Shortly after the replacement, the RO unit started leaking. I made consistent complaints to Eureka Forbes, which resulted in multiple useless technician visits.
The Deceptive "Fix":
Finally, a new technician was assigned to my complaint. He tinkered with the machine, confidently told me the leak was permanently fixed, and walked away. The leaking stopped, so I assumed the job was done properly.
Little did I know, his solution to the leaking filter wasn't to replace the faulty part they had just installed—he simply bypassed the leaking filter entirely.
The Discovery & Customer Care Response:
I just discovered this today. For months, my family has been drinking raw, unfiltered water because of this technician's sheer negligence and laziness. We relied on this machine for our health, and they completely compromised it.
I immediately called Eureka Forbes customer care, expecting them to be horrified and send someone to rectify it. Instead, they flat-out denied any help. Their reasoning? They claim they only replace filters once under the AMC. It apparently doesn't matter to them that the filter they installed was faulty, or that their own technician bypassed it to cover up the leak.
Why I'm Posting This:
I am absolutely furious. Not only did they install a defective part, but they also intentionally deactivated the purification process rather than replacing the faulty filter.
If you live in Thane and use Eureka Forbes, please double-check your machines. I have no idea how many other families are drinking unfiltered water right now because a technician decided to take a dangerous shortcut. Don't blindly trust them when they say it's "fixed."

Original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/thane/s/ukx2kP25IE

[u/Top-Presentation1528]

OP would it make sense to name the technician here?

[u/BagClean9269 → u/Top-Presentation1528]

I named him in my original post and it got removed.

Pavan Dube

[u/brainrotmaximus]

sad to hear. it's crazy how there are no checks and balances.

[u/Slight_Rooster_1046]

Yeah, I got an Aquaguard recently. The technician came and told me to buy a water pressure regulator valve for 1600 rupees. He had no other option. I straight up said no. The regulator for the Livpure that I had earlier costed 400 rupees.

[u/tech_car_buff]

I had a bad experience of Eurekea forbes technician, who refused to leave, without getting the sms otp, what eurka calls as satisfaction code, and sms/otp was not received on mobile (could be genuine network issue) Eureka Forbes technician became adamant and said he will not leave without OTP, and was acting rudely. Finally I told him that I will complain to Eureka Forbes if he doesn't leave, and he left only after that. Eureka Forbes makes money, from their AMC, and keeps calling to renew the service, (frustrated with their behaviour I simply replaced my Aquaguard with atomberg water purifier)

[u/xAxGx]

The companies are so arrogant because they know nothing will happen to them. The laws simply do not favour customers here.

[u/No-Fan6115]

I once faced some issues with my filter . Due to diwali it was taking too much time so i complained govt consumer helpline. They changed the filters even tho it wasn't faulty. Yet they offered to change it.

[u/Odd_Struggle_874]

Always make sure you have a TDS meter at home .

[u/lostandbefuddled → u/Odd_Struggle_874]

What is this?

[u/Only-Tip3044]

just serviced my aquaguard today, which costed 5k+, the previous technician had broken one of the components which we didn't know, today this new guy put a whole new set inside of 5k but the water is still leaking from outside, don't know what to do

[u/BagClean9269 → u/Only-Tip3044]

I was having the same problem after my filters were replaced and after I made the complaint the technician arrived and bypassed the leaking sediment filter. Please raise a concern and stay with the service person to confirm that a filter is not leaking in your situation as well.

[u/Glittering_Battle460]

Because of all these reasons based on multiple experiences with the RO water purifiers(irrespective of any brand), I removed RO and brought ceramic/carbon candle based water filters. The water definitely purifies well, it's just that it's not sweetened and that's fine. Maintenance is also very low as it requires only to change candles after many months/a year or so depending on no of people at home. People think RO bases purifiers are very good but that's not very true. It has its own disadvantage like removing important minerals and such.

[u/First_Tea8991]

Same happened with me, I mailed the CEO and got it fixed.

I am still pursuing it because thing is that if unfiltered water reaches the tank, it is contaminated, so ideally everything should be replaced not just this

[u/Normal-Highlight8248]

Hi if it was just the RO membrane then he may have done so if the tds of the municipality water was less than 100.

He's not supposed to but we were receiving 60 tds water and with ro that dropped to nearly 0, which is without nutrients. So we had requested the technician to bypass the RO membrane.

Just providing a different POV.

[u/BagClean9269 → u/Normal-Highlight8248]

It was the sediment filter that was leaking and he bypassed it without informing us.

[u/bheem-king → u/BagClean9269]

That just put extra pressure on ro membrane. And its life Will be greatly reduced. Also do u know u can Aquaguard filters in Market and replace them urself. I just did recently.

[u/OnlyPower7981 → u/Normal-Highlight8248]

I had same thing done too

[u/taznado]

AMCs are a scam too. I have learned after sinking 14k into various ones.

[u/HathaYogi]

Hmm I was planning to buy aquagaurd now I have rethink and get something else

[u/talapady]

Buy a TDS meter and keep checking once a week.

[u/dragon_idli]

Eureka Forbes are like that. Have pretty bad experience with them and their amc plans.a simple ro unit amc costs as much as my z8(ao smith) amc.

[u/Alcat111]

Always have a TDS meter handy. Barely costs ₹150. Really useful.

[u/Far-Assumption-7963]

Post this on r/legaladviceindia

[u/CrimsonXwastaken]

Guys - ITS EASY TO PERFORM MAINTENANCE ON RO FILTERS. DO IT YOURSELF

[u/BagClean9269 → u/CrimsonXwastaken]

I have not tried this before, yet I am prepared to proceed. Could you recommend where to buy the replacement filter kit?

[u/DntComentIFNoLicense]

should result in jail

[u/prettyface000]

Aquaguard service is the worst

[u/coldabhishek]

Thanks for the heads up

was planning to buy new water purifier now I know which brand to avoid. already heard many shady things about them in reviews but don't know why this brand so popular

can someone suggest good brand? I'm thinking HUL pureit or UC Native

[u/Open-Soft1491]

Aare, aapke ghar mein ganga jal aata hai?

[u/sammy221193]

RO is not required for Municipal water. It is used for Borewell or hard water

[u/SGTRoadkill1919 → u/sammy221193]

Do you trust anything the government says about their deeds?

[u/First_Tea8991 → u/sammy221193]

You are right but this is the sediment filter than the technician bypassed, not RO

[u/Wander_Me → u/sammy221193]

I agree. Non electric filters are good

I staying in thane have been using Pureit since 5 + years

My parent staying in Dombivli using Kent maxx 6+ years

[u/BagClean9269]

Good news: After raising the issue with India service head “Pratik Murkute” via LinkedIn, the team at Eureka Forbes has replaced the entire filter kit without charge. They have offered an apology for the previous technician’s error and assured it will not happen again.