Spammers Paradise. Review on Loop Mobile Operator

I often wonder, how do small-time cell operators survive?

Read on:

While using BPL, I get an average of 3 mass sms's everyday or on alternate days msg'es from BPL to play this game or enter that contest. It's called Value Added Services, and through their excessively priced shortcode and premium call rates, these blokes make money, and cream you.

Thats how they increase their ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) for the uninitiated.

Also, they make frequent and very convenient billing errors. BPL is infamous for billing goof-ups.

For instance, after 3 years with the network, and fighting over credits for services I didn't subscribe to, I get a call. They claim, they have goofed, a payment I made via online bank transfer has been credited twice some 6 months ago. And I should pay that.

Now a person who has been bills paying regularly, I was surprised to see them send an excel sheet via mail and annoying sms's that I've used 70% of my credit limit. The poor mobile service executives are clueless and express their haplessness, and always promise a 'callback' from a superior, which happens 2 times out of 5.

And the 'call-backers' simply ask you to pay for services you didn't know you were signed up for. Gee, I surely didn't ask for these freebies. Suddenly, you see a 30 Rs. charge for a reverge-call tone, or something ridiculous called a 'plan change charge.'

A plan change charge? For asking them to switch me from one scheme to another as per THEIR NEXT BILL CYCLE, and I need to pay a charge? Wow.

A last warning, never try to disable Roaming or other services via Interactive Voice Response (IVR) or SMS, you'll see that item creep up your cellphone anyways. Speak to a mobile service executive and CONFIRM it before your due date. These guys are out to pinch you for pennies.