Two Plus Years Later . . . . . Review on Iqara Broadband

Below, you will find my original review from November 2006. It is now December 26th. I am still waiting for the refund of my modem. After I don't know how many lies, I am not only not receiving my refund, but they are still billing me for services never received. I also keep getting calls from more than a year ago on two other accounts I had with them asking if I don't want to buy more time with them. Because MTNL is here, WHY would anyone buy their totally EXPENSIVE practically non existent service? HOW I wish I had found MTNL two years ago! That was my fault for not looking long enough or finding "MouthShut" to help me make a choice. I was paying Rs.2,806 for unlimited 128kbps, and now I have 512kbps for only Rs.590!!!

TWO YEARS AGO the original reviewer in Chennai had nothing good to say about Iqara's Service & Support. Another report in Amedebad gave the same gloomy report about non existent Service & Support. The majority of those reporting are all talking about the same lousy Service & Support. I'm in Navi Mumbai and after having been a customer for two years I have to agree with the original report. Customer Service & Support is dismal. The biggest problem are the lies -- from the very top management to the service representative. You really cannot detect their sincere assuring words from lies. Honestly, this appears to be an Indian cultural pattern, but as a foreigner I'll never get used to it. When it comes to business, the Service & Support must be higher than the speed and connection reliability. What good is speed and up-time if the Service & Support do not even get close? By the way, if and when the service reps come, DO NOT ALLOW THEM to remove their shoes!!! I have repeatedly asked them to go back down stairs and put their shoes back on while I fumigate my office! The stink is beyond belief! This is NOT an exaggeration, and I have tested it repeatedly. {:^/

As for speed, I tried the 256K plan and couldn't determine a difference between it and the 128K. But the expense is substantial!!! More to say about that in a moment. I am personally convinced that "when I wasn't looking" they would change the speed from the 256K to 128, and charge me the difference. They said they didn't, but when am I supposed to believe them? When I would put in a support call to the cell phone of the latest guy to service me, he'd say he'd be there within a half hour's time. It never happens. Actually, days may go by before someone will actually get back. By then I've got some work around and am surprised to find them even coming. Lately they have resorted to calling me days after they promised to show up. Hey! The phone call is nice, but of course, it's well after the fact and I have found someone else or something else to work around the problem. I use my connection for business and they don't treat me like a business customer. But their fees wouldn't reflect that! They are terribly expensive.

Iqara has now become "You Telecom Pvt. Ltd." The Service & Support remains the same old habitual lying. I have actually spoken directly to each of them each time they lie to me and related it to Indian culture as a problem that simply cannot exist in business. They have never apologized for it and continue to lie at will -- even after I have caught them "red-handed!" It doesn't seem to phase them at all that they are branded liars. Like I said, this may just be a cultural problem from my foreign perspective.

After trying the 256K program for a sufficient time I asked them to change my plan back to the 128K plan. Here again, promise after promise to do so resulted in their billing me for the next month at the higher 256K rates. You wouldn't believe the arguments! I finally put my foot down and SMS'd their top manager, "No more! If you want my business come and get a cheque for Rs.X or I'm 'history!'" They came and got the cheque (don't you know it!), but the very next month's billing showed me in arrears by the same amount I was disputing together with a Rs.50 "late fee!"

I finally had my fill of Iqara, and got seriously busy looking for another broad band ISP and I have found one at REASONABLE rates, MTNL. Thanks to "Mouthshut," if you look at ALL the posted comments from customers of Iqara cum You Telecom versus MTNL, MTNL comes out easily on top with MUCH higher speeds and SIGNIFICANTLY less prices! There is no service that is perfect, but Iqara is trying to prove that. They excell only in collecting your money. They are not interested in customer problems at all. They are completely detached from the problems you have with their service. And did I mention lying?

I tried their VoIP and was totally disgusted with it. I made perhaps two calls with it at the tune of Rs.2,000. They had the gall to come at renewal time to get their payment to continue the "service." There was something wrong with the software as I couldn't adjust the volume or even make it work after the first couple of times using it. No one ever came (in spite of promises), to take care of it. I simply wasted the Rs.2,000. I have also found out that Skype Callout is MUCH cheaper than Iqara / You Telecome, and with reliable service that works around the globe. Just check the rates with a free download and you'll agree.

On a positive note, their installation was professional. A far cry from Siffy who simply stretched a cable across multiple row houses from an un secured and loose box from a neighbor's house. BUT I waited weeks after I paid them to come and do the installation. (Don't EVEN think about Siffy!)

Altogether, it's been a most miserable experience. I'm not used to somone telling me what they think I want to hear when it is far from the truth of what I need to base my personal and business decisions upon. But that just may be India, and Indian culture. THAT MUST stop or India will never climb out of its 3d world, developing nation status -- atomic bomb & sending men to the moon notwithstanding! I've taken the attitude, "Lie or cheat me once, and I'll NEVER do business with you again, and no second chances. Period." I have a growing number of businesses who now realize my stand on this is irrevocable. Join me and India stands a great chance of being the best country in the world! Until now, I didn't know MTNL was another choice and have continued with Iqara long beyond the point I would normally have endured. Thanks again to "Mouthshut" I've found my next ISP! I would suggest going in to get acquainted with the MTNL managment. This has worked well for all I've heard who have done that. I detest having to simply sit on my thumbs waiting for service personnel to show up when I have other things I also need to do. I can't tell you how many times I would be out when I got a call from an employee that Iqara / You Telecom had finally arrived.

Save yourself the grief and find another broad band. Iqara / You Telecom is NOT the way to relieve your tension or get your work done.

Dan