The name 'Tel's it all. Review on Airtel Mobile Operator

I was a ''AirTel'' customer in Bangalore. In those days (dark ages) there was no Touch-Tel. Had applied for a land-line from BSNL. Took them a year & a half to give me a connection. I was literally forced to buy a cell-phone which I was more or less using like land-line from my home.

Since I was using Cellular connection a lot those days (my only connection to outside world from home), I went for post-paid Business Life Style which offered me lower air-time rates at higher rentals. Always got a bill of around Rs. 1000 - Rs. 1500 per month,no matter how less I use it.

The only MAGIC that works...

Their network was better compared with other service providers. Often got that ''Network busy'' error. Found myself 'out of range' on outskirts of Bangalore. So much for having a cell, doesn't work when you need it most when no PCO (public phone booth) is in sight.But the frequency of errors was much lesser than what my colleagues/relatives using Spice connection got (often inspiring them to switch).

The Three Stars I have given them is just for their better connectivity

Do I Care ...??

Their customer care was as pathetic as others. With a good deal of hold-up time listening to soft music. Un-informed, inexperienced often rude/arrogant (juvenile) junior customer care executives.

Air Bill

They charge Rs. 100/- per month just to give you a decent Bill!!!

Not much problems with their monthly billings (excluding some hiccups then & there).

I hadn't applied for STD facility , still they provided me connectivity to Puttur (a place in Karntaka) which my wife believed to be local (like their calls to neighbouring cities). She used it for extended calls to my in-laws. Nearly had a heart attack when I got the bill. Called AirTel they said they were helpless as the charges were from BSNL.

Tried to change to a lower end billing (less rentals higher airtimes) to save some money. They wouldn't change the Plan which was sucking me dry inspite of repeated calls & written letter delivered personally to the Branch Office.

So decided to cancel their service ( Land-line was finally installed, thank God). They cancelled my service immediately but said it will take them 45 days to mail back my deposit.

They didn't keep their promise. So after repeated calls & threats of dragging them to the consumer court, finally managed to get the deposit back. Those thugs had cut a decent amount as 'Cancellation Charges' (what for? It is absurd to charge someone who is no longer using your services. But companies often do this to punish subscribers who 'desert' them).

Still I am forced to give them 3 stars for lack of better alternatives.

Last bite

I don't know who suggested this name with such obvious association to ''Hot air''. Must be some junior Brand marketing executive just out of college or some frustrated customer ;)