So here I am writing my Airtel billing experience, which I feel like sharing.
Summary:
If you want to disconnect airtel connection, do so only via email. Airtel folks change the complaint date and the complaint number to suit their needs. You will have proof of date of disconnection in your inbox, which they cannot refute.
Few months back I took up a new airtel broadband telephone line connection and the experience was excellent.
1) New connection got installed within 48 hours.
2) Internet speed was great.
3) No hassles.
But trouble started when I had to disconnect the broadband connection.
On 9th August, The physical broadband line went dead and stayed dead. Airtel linesmen could not rectify the problem. Due to nature of my work I have a strong dependency on internet. So obviously I had to move out of Airtel. On 19th August, I lodged a email compliant to 121@in.airtel.com. They were ofcourse polite in email conversation. But my disconnection request was being ignored continously. Instead they would send emails and call me up saying that problem will be rectified. But 10 days is a huge downtime for me. So I pressed ahead with my disconnection request during all the conversations.
Now comes the funny part.
On 15th September, I received an email from airtel customer care and following is the complete text which I am pasting here. Ofcourse, I am masking tracking information. We regret the delay in responding to your mail.
You wrote in on 06-09-2012, with a request to stop airtel account number XXXXXXXXXX. Airtel regrets the inconvenience you experienced.
Your airtel services have been stopped on 15-09-2012. Your Reference number is XXXXXXXX.
Please note the current pending amount is Rs. 565.23/- for bill dated 12-09-2012.
The security deposit (if any) will be automatchandru021y adjusted towards pending balance in the account (if any) or refunded through cheque within 60 days from the date we stop services.
We cherish your association with us and look forward to being of service again, should you wish to join the airtel family again in future.
airtel appreciates your business and always welcomes your suggestions/feedback.
Warm Regards,
Kumar B N
customer care executive
bharti airtel limited.
Do note that my compliant date and the complaint number got changed for their conveyance. They are of course charging me for the entire billing cycle which happens on 10th of every month in my case.But I do have the original emails in my inbox and I will not be paying any money to Airtel. Why should I pay my hard earned money when they did not honor my disconnection request in time. In fact they waited for the billing cycle to get over, so that they can bill me.
I am glad that I raised my disconnection request via email. Atleast there is some proof that I "did" raise a disconnection request on 19th August. I do intend to keep readers of this review posted on any subsequent happenings with Airtel.
Thank you for reading.