I am an old customer of HUTCH with a postpaid connection and I am paying all my dues for this mobile connection regularly and timely. The Current Bill No. 000555248 dated 21 December 2006 (for the Billing Cycle 21 November 2006 to 20 December 2006), has been received a couple of days ago with a due amount of Rs. 283.24 (Rupees two hundred eighty three and paise twenty-four only). This Bill amount is payable by 06 January 2007. That is, the bill is not yet due for payment as on toaday.
I am very sorry to point out that on the afternoon of 27 December 2006, while I tried to contact my important business associate about a business deal, I observed that the "outgoing" facility of my Post Paid Hutch Mobile has been unilaterally withdrawn by the HUCHISON ESSAR SOUTH LIMITED, C-131, Industrial Area Phase-VIII, Mohali-160071. I felt embarrassed as I was to clinch an important business deal by calling the business associate. While I attempting to make call, a taped message played, prompting me to get in touch with the Hutch Customer Helpline Number 111 for further details. I did exactly that at 15.02 hours on 27 December 2006. Ms. Rashmi responded to attended me after waiting for several minutes. After giving my verification details, I asked her as to why the "outgoing Calls" facility has been withdrawn from my phone.
She conveyed me that the "Credit Limit" of my usage has been reduced to Rs. 200.00 and since I have already used that limit, the out going has been withdrawn, She suggested me to go to a nearest Hutch Shop and pay the bill and request for the enhancement of the Credit limit if so desire.
Since in past, too, the monthly bills were over Rs. 200.00 and never the outgoing was disconnected, I posed this question to Ms. Rashmi. She retorted that since my usage is low, company has reduced the Credit Limit.
Ms. Rashmi was informed that the Credit Limit was fixed for Rs. 750.00 at the time of purchasing the connection and company has no right to change that without a due notice and without allowing a reasonable time for me to decide.
Since the company executed a major shift in my profile unilaterally, and which adversely affected me, I felt, it was company’s ethical obligation to get in touch with me and inform me about the change(s) they propose to affect in my profile before actually affecting them. I posed the following questions to Ms. Rashmi:
Has the company given me a notice before affecting change?
Has Company asked/informed me over phone before affecting change?
Has Company sent me a SMS before affecting change?
Has Company sent me a Letter before affecting change?
Has the company given me a notice before disconnecting "Outgoing" Facility?
Has Company asked/informed me over phone before disconnecting "Outgoing" Facility?
Has Company sent me a SMS before disconnecting "Outgoing" Facility?
Has Company sent me a Letter before disconnecting "Outgoing" Facility?
To all these questions the answer of Ms. Rashmi was a big "NO". She also added that company has done so to all its customers. I Told HER doing a "wrong" with all does not become a "right". I asked her as to how swiftly my outgoing will be restored, she dropped the call and the line was disconnected.
This is highhandedness of the mobile company HUCHISON ESSAR SOUTH LIMITED, C-131, Industrial Area Phase-VIII, Mohali-160071. The customers are arm-twisted to bow to the unreasonable and undesired actions of the company. Owing to such unprovoked, unilateral, one-sided, senseless, uncalled-for, malicious, unprovoked, unfair, inequitable, inequitable, undue actions of the company, the dedicated and regular customers are put to un-necessary hardship, embarrassment, humiliation and difficulty that adversely affect one’s life and liberty.
The Helpline also added fuel to the fire by not resolving the issue, but making it more complicated by dictating the so-called commands of the company. Helpline is one-sided Command-line of the tyrant company and one just gets humiliated by contacting it.
Thus by such action the HUCHISON ESSAR SOUTH LIMITED, C-131, Industrial Area Phase-VIII, Mohali-160071 has left its dedicated, innocent and the unsuspecting customers in a lurch.
Company was urged to undo its unprovoked, unilateral, one-sided, senseless, uncalled-for, malicious, unprovoked, unfair, inequitable, inequitable, undue action of reducing the Credit Limit as well withdrawing he Out-going calls facility, immediately. In future Company must follow the norms before resorting to such an action. In case of no action is taken immediately, the matter shall be taken up with the Consumers Court.
E-mails were sent to all those who matter in the HUCHISON ESSAR SOUTH LIMITED. No reply has been received.