Aug 31, 2005 05:52 PM
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(Updated Aug 31, 2005 05:52 PM)
Students & Middle Class people – Yearly Prepaid is the way to go.
Well, all those who have been thinking for too long and not been able to take a decision or have been thinking of changing your Mobile service provider – here’s a complete account of my experience since the past 2 ½ years.
When I started off, I took the monthly prepaid, but soon realised that it was burning a big hol e in my pocket – I hardly got 50 % talktime of the total amount I paid for every refill. So, I took a conscious and well thought-out decision to go in for a yearly prepaid scheme. Believe me – it’s simply a steal! You get almost 90% talktime on your refill amount. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about your incoming calls being blocked once your month is over – you’ll keep getting calls throughout the year even if you finish off your balance.
However, I have a small piece of advice – keep your usage low in the first few months and you can enjoy later! Another scheme you can take advantage of is ACT 99. Type ACT 99 and SMS it to 144. Rs 25/- will be deducted from your account every month and all your Mobile to Mobile call will cost only 99p/ min !
Don’t fall into the Billing Trap
All prepaid customers are constantly bugged by telemarketing executives asking to convert to Billing. With the experience I have and the analysis I have done – nothing can beat the Yearly Prepaid scheme for a person whose average expenditure on mobile bills is around Rs 300 pm. Well, I had given in to this trap. The executive took a Rs 599 cheque from me. 500 was the refundable deposit and 99 was non-refundable (the catch here is that they don’t tell you this that this 99 is for the new SIM card they’ll give you). More damning is the fact that if you decide to go back to Prepaid – you’ll have to buy a new SIM card for Rs 99 from the nearest Orange gallery (there’s always a long line there). Moreover many people don’t get back their refund of Rs 500 also since they say a cheque will be sent and you have to wait till eternity for that – well, I got my refund – two of my friends weren’t lucky enough.
For all those who have already succumbed to the billing temptation – and want to opt out – here’s how to. First, check when is your next bill cycle. SMS bill to 111 and you’ll get a reply. It’ll give you the current bill cycle – the next will be exactly a month later. Don’t pay your last bill and 3 days before the bill cycle ends, go to an Orange gallery and ask for a changeover to Prepaid. If they say your last bill is not paid – ask them to deduct it from your deposit ( remember the Rs 500 /- ? ). Then you have to buy a compulsory first refill of Rs 400/- . One month down the line – you can be happier person with a yearly Prepaid scheme. The current scheme is simply too good – this is the second time I am taking a Yearly Prepaid – you buy a Refill worth Rs 3350 and get talktime worth Rs 2995/- !
One more thing – all said and done – I feel Orange still has very good service and loyalty pays! One more thing – if you have been cheated by any telemarketing agent or executive SMS your complaint to 6790 free of cost and believe me – your problem is addressed within 10 days. Orange is improving by the day! Hope this will be helpful and save more people from succumbing to the Billing trap.
