Oct 03, 2006 10:02 AM
3967 Views
A dispute I had with DishTv is described below.
Introduction:
I am a Keralite residing in Dehradun with family. My family and I have spent 16 years combined in Mumbai, Assam and now Dehradun. Hence we are avid watchers of Hindi channels. At the same time we also want our kids to be in touch with our Mother tongue - Malayalam.
I had taken DishTv Maxi plan on 21st October 2005. I had paid Rs 4999/- (for a year which included cost of hardware) and opted for Tamil/Malayalam bouquet. When Sony and Star bouquets were added, I upgraded to Sony package on 14th Aug’06 (for the remaining two months), as DishTv had advertised that those who upgraded to Sony bouquet would be given all channels of Star bouquet free.
Problem.
However I was surprised to find that SonyTV, StarPlus and StarOne were showing “no access”. I appealed to DishTv through customer care phone and email to activate these three channels along with ZeeTv & SaharaOne. I argued that I qualified for access to these channels, within my DishTvMaxi plan, as
I had taken DishMaxi package and even though I opted for South (Mal/Tamil) language bouquet, I had paid Rs 4999/- the same as those taking North language (Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Oriya etc.) bouquet. But at that time the South bouquet was individually costing only Rs 107/-, while the North bouquet cost was Rs 142/-. The difference of Rs 35/- between these packges was the Hindi entertainment channels ZeeTv, SaharaOne and later SonyTv, StarPlus and StarOne.
DishTv had advertised that those upgrading to Sony would be given all channels of both Sony and Star (no discrimination between South and North bouquets was indicated).
Even after many phone calls (only one out of about 25 got through) and emails to DishTv CustomerCare, when nothing materialised, I got fed up and as was my wont I wanted to up the level. A random search of the net brought up the email address of someone from the Esselgroup. Even without knowing who he was I shot off a copy of the mails to him on the 22nd Sept’06. Within a few hours I got a positive reply from him and the same evening the three Hindi channels along with ZeeTv was activated on my STB.
However the next day customercare informed me by email that since I had opted for Malayalam bouquet, I was not eligible to get said four Hindi channels and I would have to pay Rs 170/- for the remaining one month. I again argued that since I had not been given any price benefit when I took South bouquet instead of North in Maxi package, I was eligible to receive all the five Hindi entertainment channels free of cost. I also informed them that it was DishTv who owed me Rs 385/- (@ Rs 35/- for the 11 months I was deprived the Hindi channels even though I had paid for it).
DishTv then mailed me agreeing for a reversal of charges. But my joy was short-lived when, within 6 hrs of this mail on 29th Sept’06, without warning, DishTv cut my access to the Hindi channels.
Solution: In the end - none
Winner: On the face of it - DishTv of course!
Synopsis:
Even now the difference between the North and South bouquets is Rs 20/- (Rs180 & Rs160). Those taking Dish Maxi along with South package are still being duped by DishTv, who are not providing the Hindi channels to them even though they have paid for it. DishTv should realise that those from Southern States are also Indians and that many of us would want to watch channels in our National Language - Hindi.
Though the Esselgroup official seemed to sympathise with me, it looks as if their heartless technical guys had the final say. Their customercare again demonstrated that they cared a hoot for the woes of the customer. They just don’t realise that they are digging their own grave. It is high time DishTv mended their ways and showed some more care for the customer. Otherwise the present subscribers will start migrating, STB inter-changeability problems not withstanding. TRAI should start an ombudsman for Satellite TV operators too.
