| Name of Complainant | |
| Date of Complaint | October 21, 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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Hi,
I am Anantha Vishnu I am holding a Airtel prepaid number 9815443377 PUNJAB Circle from some days I am getting message that my outgoing services will be get stopped from 22 October 2018 even I am having a balance of ₹113 approx and after some days incoming too will be get stopped when I talked with Airtel customer support they are telling to recharge with some new unlimited packs to increase the validity even if I am having a main balance that will be with Airtel only I won’t be able to use that what the kind of new intervention they are doing so kindly I need your help to get resolved.
Anantha Vishnu
9815443377
Image Uploaded by Anantha Vishnu:
There is something fishy going on. I am too getting these messages on 4 prepaid numbers on Airtel Punjab. AS per their initial terms when I got the connection and subsequent recharges, I had subscribed to lifetime validity, which meant the incoming will remain until they have the license (year 2037, I think). To keep outgoing active we had to recharge at least once within 6 months worth Rs. 200. This requirement has been met always (since I switched to lifetime validity) and have not had any problem until now. For the last few days getting the same message on all 4 numbers. First I thought it is coming because I had recharged with monthly unlimited pack last 2 months (much more than Rs. 200 total in 6 months) but then the message started coming on all numbers even with those on normal lifetime-validity-topup-as-you-need ones. And there has been no notice or acceptance of any new terms anywhere which would cause this.
This is unfair trade practice in my opinion. As such the service has fallen below standards in the last few months. I neither need data nor too much calling. If they stop this lifetime validity or cease it because of these unlimited recharges, I will switch all 4 numbers (and 7 other friends’/families’ numbers I am responsible for) to Jio and pay them Rs. 98 monthly instead of paying Airtel monthly Rs. 99 (or 95, whatever or Rs. 999 for 330 days or whatever).
It seems they Airtel has got some new decision maker who doesn’t understand the pulse of the customer, specially those who have been loyal for over 17 years.
Waiting and watching till 23 October, 2018.
Yes brother you are right I agree with your points. “AS per their initial terms when I got the connection and subsequent recharges, I had subscribed to lifetime validity, which meant the incoming will remain until they have the license (year 2037, I think). To keep outgoing active we had to recharge at least once within 6 months worth Rs. 200.” I’m also facing the same issue with my airtel numbers. This is a big fraud of airtel with their all user. I request you all please give your review on this matter.
Yes, brother it is true, it is not just with airtel but with idea and vodafone too. they all have started the extended validity recharge. Before this, if we have balance then we can call (just that we have to maintain 200 rupees recharge) but now they started that from 23 oct 2018 i guess, we have to do two recharges, one is for talktime and second is for outgoing and incoming validity. This should be opposed in great voice i think, it is unfair.
It may be true that Airtel’s profits are on decline ,but stopping incoming ,is outrageous ,and inhuman ,& violating basic right of connectivity . Problem for Consumer is not just money ,but ,serious inconvenience ,to carefully follow dates of recharge ,and out block .
Lot of time will be wasted for going for e-recharge . Uneducated suffer even more .
It will be nightmarish in emergencies .
In sted ,I suggest ,Airtel should ,follow BSNL to generate some income from less frequent callers .They give 180 days validity extension ,by Rs 36 or Rs 37 .
I suggest Airtel should recognize its mistake ,and to be wise rather than intelligent ,and immediately introduce Rs 50 -for 6 months Validity extension .Good will is essential for long term success . If not people shift to BSNL for voice calls ,sure connectivity ,+ and Jio for 4G, two sims in two slots .
My idea number is facing the same problem, my outgoing service validity is limited to my daily monthly recharge minimum Rs 35 you need to spend every month to be able to use sim. This is stupid and fishy.
Mohan
Airtel took stupid path of ‘breech in promice ‘ ,by suddenly changing 2028 validity date to 2018 ,this will once for all shatter the trust and confidence in consumer . Airtel has nearly 30 % of low income group 2G ,plain voice call caustomers spread across towns and villages of India . Airtel can try hiding in TRAI regulation of just 6 months validity of new sim is all that mandatary . But here Airtel volutarily offered ‘Life time’ validity ,with possible small print micro letters of terms-conditions like Rs 200/ 6 months minimum recharge . This 200/6 moths condition is possibly inked by some ugly politician to favor telcos ,may be around 2G scam time ,I am not sure . It was never seriously implemented by anybody ,as such term is impractical to implemnt . It is fault of Governments not to focus on it .
Airtel may win in legal arena ,but this this will not satisfy ,simple doubt in minds of common man ,why remaining un-used balance vanishes in to thin air after 28 days . Adding fuel to fire ,stopping incoming calls @ 15 days is cruel . Having out-blocked sim in emergentcy times ,is real possibility .
Airtel should have given option to customer ( without this forced “smart recharge) ,to pay a small rent for gaurenteed incoming calls . Airtel can show BSNL example of Rs 36 or 37 validity recharge for 6 months validity extension . BSNL is infact use more humans (employes) ,and less automatation than any private telcos . So the expenditure by BSNL is more than private telcos to give validity .
If Airtel understands these realities ,then ,if it starts Rs 50 validity recharge / 6 months ,then it will be win-win situation . Airtel has aquried Telenor ,& now Docomo is thinking of monopalistic path ,in conjugation with Voda-Idea . But now it is risking to hurt ‘30% of its POOR customers ,by calling them FREE LOADERS . No body can do outgoing call without having balance . Only difference is –POOR man will make VOICE calls for essential things ,and for living ,,while Rich mans son ,will spent all his time with mobile . Doing infrequent calls is not a great crime . I do not say Airtel should go to losses ,but allowing less frequent callers is not reason for losses . Need for Incoming calls of poor man should be respected ,and they may be asked for small sum Rs 50 for 6 moths validity .This will add up to income ,and no one leaves Airtel .
Airtel has at once changed validity from 2037 down to 2018 !! Why ? here is answer.
The cell phone service providers in India are not into charity. There exists agreement to share revenue among Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI). The incoming call operator ( terminator or carrier ) shall receive a small amount ,i do not remember it exactly ,but is around 5-10 % compared to call originator .
. This is financial force that work behind ‘life time validity plans ” . Here lies tragedy .Government /DOT / TRAI took no care on this aspect ,even though it leads to serious social consequences of denial of at lest incoming free for poor people . Boosting about 4G /5G speeds on one hand to rich is simultaneously happening with neglect of middle class and poor . The 28 day validity concept paly havoc at times of emergencies ,at least the telcos should give 3 moths incoming validity for each recharge ,,but they never do it with out incentive .
The best treatment for this situation is to bring a rule by Goverment/ DOT/ TRAI on revenue sharing . If incoming /terminal/ carrier is given 25 % income and call originator is given 75 % income ,,then all service providers will revert to life time validity on next day . This is election time ,I shall do prayer to God ,for some responsible citizen will bring the matter to attention of our political Gods .
The Judicial people are powerful enough to direct the issue to Government / DOT/ TRAI and press for their response . This consumer court can do it if they wish .
If ordinary people approach them ,they will be deaf& blind ,truth given poem form by Sumatisatakam telugu . Adharamu kadili-kadalaka madhuramulagu bhashaludigi -mounavaratudi -badhirandhaka shavamu chooda papamu summi . ( this poes says ,typical giverment official when approached by pesant ,doset move his lips ,speak no sweet words ,turns in to deaf-blind dead body ,seeing of whom is a sin .
Airtel has drastically truncated validity from 2037 to just 2018
Telcos get some income for incoming calls also , i think 5-10% of call originator . This is financial force behind ‘life time validity plans . If government / TRAI/ DOT takes interest ,and if the revenue sharing is changed to say 25% to incoming operator ,,75% to call originator ,,then ,the next day all telcos will restart ,life time validity .
Unfortunately government / TRAI/ DOT do not care . The poor and middle class suffer with 28 day validity ,troubles .
If consumer court judges redirect ,the issue to government / TRAI/ DOT ,with suggestion to enhance incoming revenue ,then the problem will be solved . I hope Judges will show mercy on poor man and let them have 2G voice incoming .
There is another practical and more respectable answer to this problem . It is as follows . Airtel has to introduce PLAN-B ,changing to which should be accessible to customers via UUSD code based interactive response .
On sending Code ,the screen should show following
Are you willing to change to PLAN-B with following features with YES ,NO buttons .
** Validity will become 2037 ,with facility to recharge with Rs 10,20,30,40,ect with validity equal to card validity = till 2037 .
** The outgoing will be charged same as other customers . But Incoming will also be charged at ¼ = 25% of prevailing outgoing rate . This PLAN-B is applicable for voice calls only .
** Minimum recharge 200 rs/ 6 months condition is not applicable .
By pressing YES button ,his plan becomes PLN-B .
This PLAN-B gives predominately incoming needed customer ,guaranteed connectivity ,at small price ,and avoid need to carefully checking the dates . The service provider will get some reasonable income .
I here with request Anantha Vishnu I am holding a Airtel prepaid number 9815443377 PUNJAB Circle to think of this method carefully ,and ask consumer court judges ,for the same ,not only to himself but to any customer who wish to chage to PLAN-B .
Necessary soft ware changes can be made in e-recharge and to created PLAN-B .button .
I request Anantha vishnu who complained to Consumers court ,to show this article to Judges of this article with heading (Times of India ) dated 18-7-2017 .and Nov 23 Indian Express .Please type heading & search .
Heading = Airtel, Idea, Vodafone push for doubling mobile call termination charges .
This article says Airtel has said their cost of carrying incoming call is 30 pisa and hence IUC (interconnection usage charges ) should be raised to 30 pisa . Vodafone says its cost is 30 pisa but when license charge is included it becomes 34 pisa .
IUC is fixed by Telecom Regulatary Authority India TRAI as 14 pisa / minute .
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Now I say if TRAI is willing to revise the IUC rates for incoming to 30 pisa /mt then ,problem will be solved . . If TRAI has acted in -time them this troubled situation to many millions of Indians would not have arisen .
What’s this madness going on..
If i don’t wanna use calling services & only want data pack recharge the airtel gallery informed that won’t do ? I need to compulsorily recharge with a min 28 days validity packs going fwd ?
Yes, brother it is true, it is not just with airtel but with idea and vodafone too. they all have started the extended validity recharge. Before this, if we have balance then we can call (just that we have to maintain 200 rupees recharge) but now they started that from 23 oct 2018 i guess, we have to do two recharges, one is for talktime and second is for outgoing and incoming validity. This should be opposed in great voice i think, it is unfair.