Feb 22, 2011 12:17 PM
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I have been perusing these columns for the past few days, and have come to the conclusion that when it comes to living up to the expectations of customers, all manufacturers/service providers(with a few honourable exceptions) are miserably non-compliant in some respect or the other and have a miserable service record in some area/region or the other. Any intending customer trying to make a choice is therefore left confused - if there are such serious complaints against every service provider, where should he put his money down safely?
I have the following suggestions to such prospective customers:
Enquire about the services of the particular company in the area where you reside and where you will be availing of the company's services. Good, bad or indifferent services are more often than not area-specific and it is always a good idea to check with your neighbours.
Avoid putting down a lot of money at one go - some service providers try to inveigle you into paying for a year's subscription and then make you dance to their tunes. Keep advance payments down to the bare minimum and avoid dubious'offers' that promise you extra channel viewing, extra viewing time etc. In my experience, there is always a price hidden behind such offers either immediately or in the long run. It pays to walk the straight and narrow road and avoid the numerous blandishments service providers offer you with shameless consistency and persistence. The golden rule should be:'Pay for services, not for promises'.
No matter which service provider you ultimately choose, there is a good chance that sooner or later there will be a conflict of interests between you and such service provider. These services aren't provided by those charitably inclined, they are provided by solid hard nosed businessmen who are in it simply for the money - your money! And don't let the big names behind the service providers fool you. Behind the pompous facade, there are men who are as money-grubbing as anyone else and will fight to squeeze every bit of money-value out of you. Customer satisfaction, business ethics are all words that look nice on the printed page. They have little or no value in the real world. Therefore if you are ever in the unfortunate situation where you have to assert your own rights, be prepared to give it everything you have got. And do not make the mistake of expecting too much from Consumer organisations - most of them are ill-equipped to handle the myriad complaints the poorly controlled Indian business environment generates. You are the person who best understands your own pain and humiliation. You are therefore the person best equipped to fight your case.
The above suggestions apply to all service providers equally without exception. The cardinal rule is: Caveat Emptor!, meaning: Buyer beware!
