Beware Airtel 3G services - Wrong alerts. Review on Airtel Mobile Operator

I subscribed to Airtel's Rs.100 / 300 MB 3G data plan over my phone connection. Though I subscribed it in the middle of the month and understand that I was entitled to only about 150 MB free usage(pro-rata basis), what irritated me was the false alerts and vague responses sent by Airtel.

I barely used around 3 MB data on day 1 of my 3G data plan. Next day, I received an SMS saying I have used 90 MB data and I should upgrade my data plan to continue the services. When I called up Customer Care, they asked me to ignore the message.

After that, even though I didn't use any further data, I received another message next day saying I have used around 92 MB data and I should upgrade my plan. Now this shocked me because I am a well-informed data user and track my data usage using the built-in data counter on my android phone.

When I checked with Customer Care, they told me that usage alert is right and I might have used 92 MB data. When I sent a mail threatening to disconnect or migrate my phone connection, one person called up and offered 10% discount on my bill(for what? that he didn't answer. Just offered some discount because I threatened to migrate).

To my surprise, next day, another email reply(to same mail) asked me to ignore the mail. Then when I recalled the entire conversation, another mail came, informing me that usage alert was right and there could be some unbilled usage. Please note the different, vague responses for same problem from same company.

I was totally lost and wondered what mistake I have made. I immediately deactivated the data pack and decided to wait for monthly bill. When the bill arrived, I found out that I had indeed used only 2.69 MB data(and not 92 MB as claimed by usage alert).

My subsequent attempts to get a response from Airtel on faulty 3G usage alerts have failed to get a response from them. I have decided to switch over to other operator because I faced several other(seemingly trivial issues) in the past(read my previous review below, because Mouthshut probably doesn't allow more than one review for a product from same user).

My advice - avoid 3G data plan on Airtel. You may not be charged extra but you will spend lot of time in anxiety due to faulty alert system(that they fail to acknowledge because they might have spent lakhs or crores to implement this faulty system).

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=This was my original review few years back(new review is above)=

I have been an Airtel user for last 9 years. First I was using a pre-paid connection. I started using a post-paid connection in 2007. I had opted for a special billing plan that was available to employees of my company.

In 2008, a better plan was announced by Airtel for employees of my company, and like many other people, I also requested to change the billing plan. That's when my problems started(and they continue even till this date).

I had opted for auto-debit on my credit card. When I received the credit card bill after the Airtel bill plan change, I realised that same amount has been charged twice to my credit card. When I checked the billing details with credit card company, they told me that Airtel has raised 2 bills.

I called up Airtel Customer Service several times but they simply refused to understand the problem. Almost all the calls ended up in heated exchanges and I soon realised that it was an exercise in vain. The guys behind the telephones simply don't want to understand.

I then walked into an Airtel Customer Service center with my credit card bills. To my surprise, I found out that along with billing plan change, Airtel has also changed the account number associated with my cellphone number. What they did was that they sent a bill for old account number and also carried the amount to new account number and send a bill for that as well.

After about 1 hour of heated discussions, the customer service representative understood the problem and asked his office to refund the amount that was charged twice.

It took 2 months to finally see the credit in my card bill and I was happy that my hours of effort finally managed to get my money back.

That was about 1 year ago. Recently, I realised that the problem isn't quite over as yet.

Airtel has been sending me bill for 10 paise(yes, you read it right - 10 paise) for last 2 months. What is worse is the fact that this 10 paise bill is being shown from the old account(that was closed once I changed the billing plan). Even worst is the fact that Airtel is sending me these 10- paise bills by courier.

Now, you may think that why would a company spend time and effort sending a 10 paise bill to a customer?

The answer is simple - they want to create a liability on me. They know that in all probability, I would dismiss the 10 paise bills and not pay it. After a few months, they can start levying all their charges for non-payment or late payment on that 10 paise bill(and those charges may run into hundreds or thousands of rupees).

This is the kind of fraud that Airtel is unleashing on its customers. Any attempts to explain the logic to Airtel customer care falls on deaf ears and(as a customer) you are forced to think whether they are serving us or we are serving them?

Always be careful with your Airtel Bills and your credit card bills. Take note of the billing cycle and demand a bill when you don't receive it on time(one way of doing this fraud is to not send the bill to customer for many months). If you have even slightest suspicion, rush to their customer service offices(don't call them, they simply don't understand your language).