Airtel harassment - Future Lite 199. Review on Airtel Mobile Operator

This is my experience with Airtel so far -

Email to Airtel 15th Dec

Kind attn: Customer Service

Dear Sir/ Madam,

Please note my mobile number 9880185-Six Four Nine and bill number 63453459 dt 12.12.2011.

This month, I was shocked to get an SMS to pay an amount for 4731/- and I immediately checked my email to get the bill. I found the amount was due to "mobile internet Volume" for about 4000/-.

In the month of May 2011, I had asked for a plan change to Airtel Advantage 199(please refer your recorded call conversation). On the call, the customer service executive advised to instead take up the plan Future lite 199 as it would be better. Trusting the executive, I asked him to go ahead and change to this plan. At no time was I clearly informed that if I use any data on my phone, I would be charged at the this ridiculous rate as mentioned in the bill. Also, as no mobile plan till now immediately gives internet access, I had assumed that this was a part of the plan. My husband also used internet for Rs.

100/- per month with mobile office. So we had assumed that this was already activated. Now, only after getting this bill did we realize that Airtel is trying to trick customers into paying these huge amounts by not informing them clearly about the alternatives. Why would anyone in their right mind pay 4000/-

pm(for slow speed GPRS) when you can get 1 or 2 Gb for 100/- per month by sending an SMS.

I have always admired Airtel for their service and would like to continue if possible. So I request you to immediately revise this bill and discount the entire internet volume. You can add Rs. 100/- which is the fair amount for Airtel mobile office. Please send me the revised bill immediately so I can clear the amount. Also, please change my plan immediately to Airtel advantage 199 and activate Mobile office.

If unable to do this, kindly terminate my number immediately and you would have permanently lost a long term customer. I am not paying this bill and am prepared to highlight the insincerity behind

this Airtel plan in a court case if required.

Sincerely,

PS: I have in the past even invested in Airtel shares believing it to be a telecom company way whose service is way above other companies. So my sincere advice is to stop foolish plans like this which is only meant to fleece customers and instead educate them about the alternatives. This will enhance

your reputation. You can take this as a strong feedback.

Email to Airtel 15th Dec

Kind attn:Ms. Poornima

Thank you for your mail and service request no 41087567.

Further to my below email, I had a suspicion that I have already activated Mobile office in May or June itself. So to confirm this, I sent another sms to 121 with "INTERNET" and then "ACTGPRS".

I received a message - "This service is already activated on your number". So this now clearly shows that this is a billing mistake. So please rectify at the earliest and send me the revised bill so I can

clear the required amount.

Everything else as mentioned in my previous email still remains the same.

Regards

UPDATE

My current outstanding payment is around 6500/-.

For 3 months, I paid the bill covering all the other amounts except the data download amount.

And now, I am really wild. After doing some research, I found that the ICRPC.org website is a very helpful website for people like me. As per their advice I have to begin with lodged a complaint with Department of Telecommunications(all done online with the least hassles).

My registration number is DOTEL/E/2012/03893.

Will keep updating on my latest actions till I hear something positive from Airtel. My ultimate aim is to go to the consumer court and really publicize the unfairness of this whole situation. It really is not about the money though 6500/- is also quite a pinch considering my usual mobile bill is around 500/-.

UPDATE

I must commend ICRPC for the job they are doing. Very professional and helpful. I got an email from them instantly for the procedure in filing the complaint. Now, armed with all the information, I am going to try and finish off the entire process tomorrow itself if possible. You have to become a member by paying 300/- and they even have online payment facility. Thanks IRCPC.

Will keep everyone updated on how things are going. It may take some effort but I am happy I am doing this. We need to fight unfairness, not just find the easiest way out. Otherwise things will never improve.