| Name of Complainant | |
| Date of Complaint | November 18, 2018 |
| Name(s) of companies complained against | Airtel |
| Category of complaint | Mobile Phone |
| Permanent link of complaint | Right click to copy link |
| Share your complaint on social media for wider reach | |
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I am Airtel customer from almost a decade, suddenly company has changed its policy and has curtailed lifetime validity to plan based validity. This is highly unethical, I purchased an Airtel sim when they were offering lifetime validity and now they have changed their stand this should not be allowed. Airtel should be published for this cheating and our lifetime validity must be restored.
Image Uploaded by Dr Jagdish Raj Saini:
Exactly what happened with me. This is outrightly a cheating because,
1. they never asked me for my consent and changed the plan on their own
2. even after doing so they never intimated about the same and it was me who realized this today after I called up customer care.
3. the customer care guys are well trained and updated about it. They took some 30 minutes of discussion to just admit that the plan has been changed.
My request with consumercomplaintscourt is to take up the case as a mass customer would be effected because of this.
That’s true.Even idea has also changed plans ,my both sim card idea and airtel’s validity is expiring next month.This companies must be punished.
i m facing same issue.today i ve last day for extending validaty.what should i do?
Even my idea number is suffering from same limited validity flaw. How can they change this life validity to plan recharge validity. If you don’t recharge monthly, you won’t get outgoing, this is stupidity. Punishment must be given to them all.
Even I received a message saying – ‘Pack validity for my Airtel number will expire in 2 days & outgoing services will stop.’ How can they change life time validity to plan based validity to existing subscribers? Very unprofessional. They are now forcing us to recharge every month to avail outgoing services.
This is the way they will make money and this vicious circle has been allowed by the TRAI & governing officials.
Yes, agreed. All of them have done this. My Vodafone and Airtel card is having same issue. This is not acceptable. Even telecom regulator has not notified anything to them. This is a serious case of fraud as we had purchased sim card with lifetime validity scheme.
There should be a strict action taken on all of them as this is harassing customers.
what steps have you taken to put your case to customer care? Airtel is restricting my outgoing calls form 23 Nov 2018.
I am facing the same problem, my outgoing is restricting from 22/11/18. This is offence of term and conditions which we got at the time of new airtel customers.
Same is the issue with me now.
I am facing the same problem,my main balance is 302 rs but I am receiving msg from airtel my outgoing call will be stop from 26/11/18. This is offence of term and conditions which we got at the time of new airtel customers.
Guys, I checked with customer care(198), they say now a minimum RC35 (26 TT & 100MB DATA) for a month is mandatory unless you have an unlimited plan in place
Do we have any other solution because if I have 4 Airtel numbs in my house.. recharging all of them every month does not make sense
This is not done for customers mahn!!
#frustratedcustomers
Now Using 2 Sims will become costly for middle class Indians! How is TRAI allowing this!!
Same with me too
Same Here. I am facing the same problem,my main balance is 102.66 rs but I am receiving msg from airtel my outgoing call will be stop from 25/11/18. This is offence of term and conditions which we got at the time of new airtel customers.It will be punished.
if it is technicial error thry have to solve last week they published 2G service and 4g service and deactivating 3g service but they are giving only 4g marked sim card when one logs for replacement sim , so the news and old phones used by various elders to have 2g service for basic service, so they have facility to scan 2gphone or mode prefered customer
Hi! Your lifetime validity exists for the main account balance i.e. talktime. However, you can now recharge through either our Bundle or newly launched smart recharges and avail all-on-one benefits like calls, data benefits and talk time in a single recharge. These are validity based recharges with different validity period as per the packs you chose. For recharge info, dial *121*51#. Thank you, Sapna
Ho can you say the lifetime validity stays ?? when the message clearly says “we will NOT be able to make any “outgoing” calls.
Hi, what is the use of lifetime validity of main account balance when the message clearly says we will not be able to make any outgoing calls?
Sapnaji,
Lets consider -I am a sole earning member in a family of 4, I do a wifi recharge (not cellular data) for all of them as it’s affordable and that’s what we prefer. Now, as per ur statement the smart recharges would cause me to spend at least 35×4=140 for 28days and 140×12 for a year because I don’t need a bundled plan for any of them.
I get it from Airtels point of view, targeting every single customer so they spent at least 35 to get an outgoing call. Airtel makes money but you need to understand common man is not dhani.
@Bharti Airtel :
Did you informed TRAI about your change in policy before implementing it to you customers?
Does your new policy is approved from TRAI?
can you help me with porting my airtel sim to jio as they are more trustworthy than you in all aspects.
how many days it will take to port to jio
What the heck…..if I do a recharge of 100….why do I need to do additionally recharge for validity again?
Your representatives are telling same thing to opt for the vouchers.
You no longer can make us fool.
Did you ever try to circulate that on television through advertisements or did you discuss once about it with TRAI ?
Don’t you feel that your company is the most pathetic in service and you boast your service to be best.
We need you to immediate change the plan or get ready to fight with all your consumers with this utter crap instantly changed policy
We are done and now willing to lodge the FIR in consumer court about it.
Yes, exactly. How can you say validity is lifetime. When we check balance, it is clearly showing validity of Outgoing is 29/11/2018 and Incoming is 16/12/2018. Where in this line it is showing as lifetime validity ? It is serious case of Fraud and Harassment to the customers.
How is that everyone has same 25 Nov 2018 date for this outgoing validity.
What does life time validity means then?
Incoming: Why should i pay for incoming. All my banking transactions, Adhaar, Google accounts are connected to SIM Card incoming messages for security check. Does anyone care how much harm this causes ? I will not even get a message if there is an unauthorized transaction.
Despite JIO’s cheaper options , i continued with Airtel for last 2 years but I will never use Airtel’s ANY future services again . Never !
Promised a lifetime validity and made my SIM useless.
You are right ,since after 30 days of non usage,your number may go to someone else.your bank transaction OTP will go to that person!
@Bharti Airtel:
Did you informed TRAI about the change in policy?
Does TRAI gives you approval before you have changed this policy?
well my hole society have decided to port last night in meeting. on 29 Nov 2018 we all together go and port. let’s see if there any effect on Airtel by loss of 250 peoples. then we will move on our community. and make them realize how these kind of companies are making them foolish. i would say that let’s close these kind of companies by making a unity let’s port and support India kick out outsiders. be Indian. let’s show them who we are?
Same is the issue with me now.
Bharti Airtel’s rep Sapna’s response is absurd and makes no sense. Request them to stop playing with words and address customers concern. When I purchased a LIFE TIME VALIDITY plan, it means you can’t bar me from using my phone either for making calls or for receiving calls for my life time subject to availability of currency in my account. Compelling customers to recharge monthly with some minimum currency to keep the account active cannot be termed as LIFE TIME VALIDITY. Let all the customers get united and fight a legal battle, if need be. We must get justice and compensation for the hardship telecom companies are thrusting on us !
It seems Airtel has intentionally done this. What Airtel doesn’t understand is that by doing this, they would lose lakhs of old customers permanently increasing their losses further. Any Airtel number can be ported to Jio or any other operator. Just send SMS PORT mobile no to 1900.
It seems Airtel has intentionally done this. What Airtel doesn’t understand is that by doing this, they would lose lakhs of old customers permanently increasing their losses further. Any Airtel number can be ported to Jio or any other operator. Just send SMS PORT mobile no to 1900.
Same problem and concern relating to lifetime plan and message received there of fixing date of rechage to 30th November 2018.
What it means by Airtel ` Your lifetime validity exists for the main account balance i.e. talktime` when both the incoming and outgoing calls are stopped by the Airtel.
My mobile no is 9556720076 and I have also received the same message when my sim was for lifetime
Somebody please let me know how to file complaint in TRAI regarding this validity thing?
I called customer care 198, understood that the main balance stays even after they stop the outgoing,that like at 12am on the date given. To add to the inconvenience, they stop the incoming too if you do not recharge with a smart pack/unlimited pack within the next 15 days.
This is why u see a 15 days difference in validities on dialing *123#. It’s something all network operators are doing. Airtel taking the lead
Its true, it should be punished.
This is complete nonsense from Airtel.
They are betraying customers. On one side they are saying #thank you airtel offer with free Netflix and on other side they are recovering that amount by reducing the validity of their prepaid subscribers. They are making fools. Not good
Now Using 2 Sims will become costly for middle class Indians! How is TRAI allowing this!!
I am Airtel customer from almost a decade, suddenly company has changed its policy and has curtailed lifetime validity to plan based validity. This is highly unethical, I purchased an Airtel sim when they were offering lifetime validity and now they have changed their stand this should not be allowed. Airtel should be published for this cheating and our lifetime validity must be restored.
The same thing happened to me also. I am an airtel customer since from 2006 to till date. I purchased lifetime validity for one thousand rupees at that time when they were offering it. Now they have changed their stand and policy suddenly without any prior notice or information. This is nothing but cheating the huge public. Better change to another service provider If lifetime validity not restored.
We all should change the network from Airtel to Jio/Bsnl.
same issue..
i live in delhi . what all options of other networks do i have for porting.
lets all boycott Airtel and port to any other service provider
I will port after Airtel main balance is over.
The same thing happened to me also. I am an airtel customer since from 2006 to till date. I purchased lifetime validity for one thousand rupees at that time when they were offering it. Now they have changed their stand and policy suddenly without any prior notice or information. This is nothing but cheating the huge public. Better change to another service provider If lifetime validity not restored.
Drag to court, totally unethical trade practice by Airtel, demand for compensation in case they continue to bar outgoing calls.
I am also so frustated about this all of sudden changed policy of these ridiculous sim providers. I have idea and airtel both. I had to reset the password so I made a call and I had primary balance too. Then I came to know that validity has been expired.
There was not notification, no consent taken while changing the plan. Even if they say that we do get your consent while you opt for a sim that is ridiculous too because you do a consent that once we have opted for a plan , you can not make any changes at any instance unless it is expired.
Even this authority was not taken on any govt. policy too. Now same thing is with airtel and they are saying if you don’t do recharge, your outgoing call along with incoming will be blocked . What bullshit is it?
How will poor people manage it?
These utter crabs companies are persuading people to spend money on them anyhow.
We need to lodge complaints in bulk else they will starr to implement any next disgusting plan and will impose on us.
I am Airtel customer from almost a decade, suddenly company has changed its policy and has curtailed lifetime validity to plan based validity. This is highly unethical, I purchased an Airtel sim when they were offering lifetime validity and now they have changed their stand this should not be allowed. Airtel should be published for this cheating and our lifetime validity must be restored
Everyone call the customer care and ask them you want to file MNP and change your network.
Perfect option but to go to which network???
Everyone start filing for Mobile number portability (MNP) and change your network from Airtel. Then they will automatically start listening to your queries.
Call the customer care and tell them you want to initiate MNP because of this issue.
You all guys seems to have had it all till now… This is how it works in rest of the world. You pay as you go, that’s the universal rule for prepaid connection, nobody offers lifetime validity anymore that’s why people in the other countries only holds single sim card as their primary number. Even if you switch operator, you would still have to pay to keep incoming calls at least if you don’t have balance.
They suspend my service. Airtel did not warn me about that before just giving me message of out going will be deactivte and now network signals completely gone.
Airtel has changed my life time validity that was upto 2035 to one month What is this?? jst going to port my number to Jio .
Bye Bye Airtel
Same problem with me. I am a loyal customer of Airtel from 6 years, and now they have started a new thing, pack lo tab validity pao.Fully nonsense. Guys if we port our Sim togetherly then Airtel will thik over it. Unite and port to Jio or any other operator of your preference. Such a situation like demonetization. At last common people have to loose. Incredible India.
I had paid one time payment for life-time validity. Airtel’s representative has totally confused me saying that now “I will have to recharge every 28 days” for using this number or ELSE “I loose this SIM”. This betrayal of Airtel, is giving me a good reason to port my SIM to JIO or Anyone else.
If they these service providers are changing basic tariff of ” LIFETIME INCOMING FREE” you can change your number to JIO one of cheapest ‘ MOBILE SERIVICE PROVIDER’ for both prepaid and postpaid. You can change your number from any of your network like AIRTEL IDEA OR VODAFONE by sending MOBILE NUMBER PORT FACILITY within in a week you can change your number to JIO. So far you this is only way to keep your monthly recharge with in your budget. For 49 rs one month free calls and data with good speed. Only for 35 rs recharge with these service providers your call charge will be 1.20 ps for that again you need recharge for 100 rs. So i feel JIO is POCKET FRIENDLY
Airtel is fooling around, they promised me lifelong validity of incoming calls and now they are forcing me to recharge to avail validity it’s completely unethical. Without any consent of me they have changed my plan and now I have to burn unnecessary currency to avoid wastage of recharge.
Porting out of Airtel soon. Better to trust on Jio than airtel.
All please raise complain on https://consumerhelpline.gov.in/
Somebody should file a complain against this in the consumer court and start a petition. This is outrageous, how they have changed this. I had an old number which i primarily used just for incoming messages and calls, and now just to avail that i have to regularly make sure i make recharge of 35 rupees …this is crap when they promised us the opposite when buying their service. They could have applied it to new sim connections but otherwise I do not feel it is right !
Airtel CEO Gopal Vittal says he “did not expect any regulatory issues due to the phasing out of the so-called lifetime free incoming plans.”
– Not very sure about that Mr. Vittal, because if I purchased a sim when Airtel was offering Lifetime Validity on that sim, then it is meant to be so for my lifetime, I think. Without my consent, can the operator take away my plan which I essentially “bought”? You may be free to withdraw that plan from the market and restrain new customers from availing this benefit, but existing customers have a valid point to raise an alarm here.
The same issue has corped up on my Airtel number and since I dont stay here in India and all my Indian accounts and relevant documents are linked with my airtel number.
i have started receiving sms from Airtel that my validity will expire on 21.12.2018
Has this move by Airtel been approved by TRAI ??
Me also had recharged my airtel number with rs 99 per month for 12 month only for incoming call but suddenly its plan changed and barred the incoming call. It’s the un ethical process. Need to raise action on cheating operator airtel.
Their goal is restrict multi SIM cards usage and introducing monthly recharge policy. Upcoming days all networks will apply the same rule.
It is worst service by airtel.
I too suffered with by airtel.
It is worst service by airtel.
I too suffered with by airtel.
It is worst service by airtel.
I too suffered with by airtel.
Hello Sir, can we all form a group on whatspp and teach these people a lesson .
Hello Sir, can we all form a group on whatspp and teach these people a lesson . Has some filed a case with trai, kindly let us know the progress if there is any.
It’s not only Airtel but Vodafone and Idea also quietly implemented this rule. Is there any other telecom service which is providing lifetime validity we can port to that?
Its really burden on middle class family in which only one member used to have unlimited recharge and others using just for only incoming .
Only posting complaint is not solution,
we need to bring them down by a serious action with revolutionary protest and “boycott all of them” whoever is estimating The Power of Consumers and trying to rule smart with their business strategies.
This new airtel plan is just bullshit.
Robbing the innocent users in a broad daylight.
I purchased airtel sim with lifetime validity but what now ? Why?
I have main balance of 105.23 but of late, I’m notified via texts saying my outgoing calls is due to expire on January 3rd 2019, which further prompts me to recharge with Rs. 23 or my balance will be debited.
What is this ???
The worst network provider
The most expensive telecom service
Shame shame shame
I wish all Airtel users shifts to JIO or other telecom service to teach this fraud telecom service in India.
But you have to opt some plan in JIO sim card also. I think only BSNL is the option to port which is providing 6 months validity in Rs 36.
Guys! Let’s Sue Airtel. This is Outrageous! I am finding steps to sue them and will post it here.
friends, life time validity cancelled for not just Airtel, but for Idea, Vodafone also. BSNL ? In my view, BJP Govt. made this public nuisance through TRAI. Govt wanted to target public having multiple SIMs in one’s name and also generate revenue unethically.
Consumer court will not give remedy because, consumer court is meant for individual’s grievance, but, this problem is whole consumers of mobile service. Therefore, this problem should be resolved only by Supreme Court case or by Prime Minister’s urgent Order to revert the service back to earlier form.
Stupid network,blaming people.same problem facing me to
i have two Airtel mobile sim, same problem facing, message came outgoing and incoming stop on 12/01/2019. This type problem we can’t accept. What is the solution………………
It should not be applicable to the existing customers who already have lifetime validity as it is very unethical. These companies should be punished and charged heavy penalties.
Is this something new? Havent u guys seen airtel cheap dirty greedy tricks to earn money? Its already ugly as hell what these greedy companies keep doing. I am going to throw airtels sim asap.
We need revolutionary protest against these greedy companies once again as we did during jio launched. “They should be boycotted”
Consumer is only one whom they are looting making by fool and they think they can rule us according their benefits and recover their business
But we the consumers are the only Power who can teach them a lesson for now and for future they should never estimate the power of consumer.
If you guys agree please respond….
I can’t see my post here…
Only posting complaint is not solution,
we need to bring them down by a serious action with revolutionary protest and “boycott all of them” whoever is estimating The Power of Consumers.
Hi,
when i purchased SIM card it was lifetime validity then how can air-tel suddenly stopped the validity period.It is injustice thing. Air-tel to change their mentality towards their valuable customers.
Air-tel smartly cheated all users on the name of ” Lifetime Validity” . I think this plan they had launched during 2005, for this I have paid Rs.1000. Value of Rs.1000 was vary much during that period and service provider fooled all their consumers to earn more revenue. TRAI need to take necessary action and need to pass rule that for new customer they can charge rs.35 for incoming without harming Lifetime Validity users. Waiting for TRAI strong action over this ” Lifetime Validity” plan.
Airtel you will loose all your customers eventually. All your moves are blessings in disguise to Jio…
yes govt should take the necessary steps in punishing the airtel and idea network providers they were playing with the people bringing down the validity of a sim to the validity of a plan
every one is facing the same problem by the expiry of the sim (incoming and outgoings were stopped)
Agree.. an arbitrary conduct
This s d most stupidest thing..there are enough stuff to worry about in life than validity of my sim.(.which by the way i was promised lifetime ) and now betrayed…Do you even undesrtand such a dangerous disadvantage it is during emergencies ??..Maybe someone needs to make an urgent call to save a life ….or someone somewhere is illegally using my card and I never get a message ..thanks to your expired validities..
am idea customer suddenly company has changed its policy and has curtailed lifetime validity to plan based validity. This is highly unethical, I purchased an idea sim when they were offering lifetime validity and now they have changed their stand this should not be allowed. Idea should be published for this cheating and our lifetime validity must be restored.
Please comment any get help from this
Air-tel smartly cheated all users on the name of ” Lifetime Validity” . I have paid during 2005, for this I have paid Rs.1000. Value of Rs.1000 was very much during that period and service provider fooled all their consumers to earn more revenue. TRAI need to take necessary action and need to pass rule that for new customer they can charge rs.35 for incoming without harming Lifetime Validity users. Waiting for TRAI strong action over this ” Lifetime Validity” plan.