There is this new relationship center of Airtel in my neighborhood. ARC487 headed by Maria Shilpa. Here are the details of the ordeal I had to go thru this evening.
I was gifted a new phone which needs a nano sim. I visited the ARC in HSR layout thats newly opened since it is closest to my home. I called 121 prior to that to inquire what documents will I be needing to ensure there are least hurdles and I can enjoy my gift at the earliest. I was told I shall need a PAN card copy, one photo, voter id card and address proof. I apprised the Customer care rep that I dont have a voter id card and what could I use for address proof. I was asked if I had a rent agreement and that should work.
After a hectic day, When I reached the ARC, the first guy told me the girl on the next counter will help you. The girl, Saujanya( I doubt if that is her name) asked me for the documents and I gave her the usual, rent agreement, pancard, photo .(not my first time getting a nano sim). She looked at the rent agreement and said this will not work. we dont accept the rent agreement. When I told her the CC rep actually asked me to furnish the rent agreement she kept quite and started fiddling with the system.
I waited for good 5 mins and asked what did she need and she was irritated, told me "I am working" Showing me the screen "The system is slow". Hello! How am I supposed to know you are working if you dont engage me. When I insisted on getting the sim she called a guy from her team who took a look at the rent agreement and threw it on the table and told me "Madam, we dont accept the rent agreement we cannot help you". I would have been upset if they would have agreed to give me a sim with the rent agreement if that is not the process. However, I did for sure not like the way this guy was treating me. When I raised my voice for the inconvenience it was causing me, one of his senior looking team member intervened and asked if I had an alternate proof. He told me if I could furnish an alternate proof, he could process the request. I sked the girl( Saujanya) to process the request while I get her the proof’s she shrugged me off as if I were a fly on her shoulder and said"Go there if(you think)he will help you" . By now I was enough humilitated.
Now the amazing turn of events. I tried to look up the photo’s of copies I made for another purpose.
1.While in the ARC, the 3G network was not available.
They dont have a printer / copier to make a copy of your documents
They wouldnt have a USB drive to download a copy of the documents
The employees themselves dont know the email id I could mail the documents to. the one they provided arc487@in.airtel.com bounced back the mail.
The store incharge Maria Shilpa is amazing. She fought will every customer in the store. Another gentleman who was there was also told Rent agreement would be accepted for Address proofs was actually told "If you can raise your voice, even I can!" When I tried to talk to her to reason out the issues we were facing, I was told" Please wait for your turn, where are your manners?"
I hope someone from Airtel actually reads this and knows how their valued customers are been treated.
ARC visited: Sapthagiri Communications # 1197, 24TH. MAIN, 22ND. CROSS, NEAR TO PARANGIPALYA BUS STOP, HSR LAYOUT, SECTOR 2, BANGALORE