Aug 22, 2010 03:09 PM
2509 Views
From the time I shifted from MTNL to private network service providers, I was always skeptical about the kind of customer care they provide. My worries were not unjustified; I used to hear things about how deceitful these service providers can be. Unfortunately I was at the receiving end this time.
It so happened that, I used to access internet using Airtel mobile. It was alright until I thought of shifting to the unlimited data plan. Every time I used to browse a little I used to receive a service message stating how much I had downloaded and every such message always had a small little line stating ‘For unlimited internet please contact 12131’
I called the number 12131. There was a automated message system which told me of the offer that I could get unlimited GPRS internet for 98.00 rental. [Unlimited as in 2GB download limit]. The automated message instructed me to key in ‘1’ for activation of the service. Then I was told to send a SMS to some number for activation, I did that as well. And soon after I got a SMS from them saying. ‘GPRS has been activated on your mobile’. Glad that I was, I started using the internet in full fledged happiness.
This was the scene on 31-Jul. let’s cut to the Independence Day. My GPRS was working smooth, full credit to Airtel in that regard, but then they sent me mobile internet settings once again. I do not know the reason for it, but thank god they did that, I called the customer care to ask for the same, and then started the perils. I came to know that on 31-Jul they had activated the ‘Zero rental plan’ and not the one I had requested i.e. the unlimited plan. So instantly I told them to activate that plan, which promptly they did.
Now I told them then and there that please raise a request, I do not want pay larger amount when it’s not my fault. They refused even registering the complaint as the bill was not generated, so waited for the bill to be generated and then as expected they had charged me for my uses from 31-Jul to 15-Aug. I tried to send mails, and call customer care, but there was no satisfactory response from any of the party.
At the end, the call center guy accepted their mistake, but even told me that I should have confirmed which plan is activated, I was speechless, when I had personally keyed in the number for the unlimited GPRS, and how could they activate a different service and charge me for that. In addition, the SMS they sent me, said, ‘GPRS has been activated on your mobile’. How am I to know which plan is activated from such a stupid, template SMS, which does not contain, at least the plan information. I’m forced to pay more than double amount than what I was expecting it to be.
Airtel, get your act together. And at least tell me what should I do now?
