I live in Bangalore. I opted Airtel as my service provider mainly because of Internet Service(3G) as my previous service provider(Vodafone) did not have 3G service.
I opted for a Corporate Tariff Plan that provided me Voice and Data benefits(with CUG). I work for an IT company and hence took up “Alive Net CUG 375 Combo” Postpaid tariff Plan that gives me a benefit of CUG calling, 600 Mins Free Talk time and 1 GB of 3G Internet.
I was on Airtel network for 5 months and when Vodafone came up with 3G I decided to Port out to Vodafone. I submitted a porting request on 24.5.2014 and the porting was completed on 30.5.2014. On the very next day(31st May) I cleared all my outstanding dues of Rs. 423 at the ARC Vijayanagar and got a confirmation that all dues are cleared and nothing will be charged later(as my billing cycle is 26th of every month and 28th is my bill generation date).
Now I had been charged Rs. 419 again stating that this is the prorate charges for using the service for 3 days(26th till 29th May). A lady from Chennai Customer Care contacted me on this and I explained everything to her and then she told me to get in touch with the ARC Vijayanagar to get this updated on the database. However, when I contacted the ARC they told me that they cannot do anything from their end and suggested me to contact Airtel CC on their toll free “9845012345” with great difficulty I got hold of the executive and he explained me that I was charged such a hefty amount for using Data services. I demanded an explanation to provide me a documented proof as to where it is mentioned that I will be charged for using data service on prorate basis? But the executive told me that his resources are limited and can’t help me. I got frustrated and hung up the call.
I was wonder stuck; Data service is a part of my tariff plan but Airtel had charged me for using the same on prorate basis that too for 3 days?I started getting warning messages and calls asking me to clear the dues or face the consequence of getting disconnected from the network. Now I am stuck in a dilemma as to Why should I pay for the data usage? If don’t pay my service with Vodafone will be interrupted.
Airtel has really started acting being beggars demanding me to pay the dues. I wonder in what way this a justice to a customer? I am forced to pay the dues as I am helpless… Wish no one else gets cheated like me.The fun part here is that I have not yet received the Hard-copy of the bill for my clarification and documentation. But I keep getting anonymous calls from Airtel executives asking me to clear the dues. I understand that each and every Mobile Service Providers in the market(small players) has their own flaws but never expected this from Airtel being a giant player in the market.I am totally dis-satisfied with Airtel. Hope nobody else gets cheated like me.
My advice to all reading this: Proactively never pay your due bills after you port out from the service provider, wait for the final bill.
(I kept this content short but I have many other grievances as well)