Hello,
I have been a user of Airtel for over 3 years (minus a few months when I shifted to Hutch). First I’ve been as a Post Paid customer, then shifted to Prepaid and then back to Post paid.
Overall, I have enjoyed my association with Airtel, except for a few times and that too only with their billing department (somehow, they manage to knock me off my feet and offer a sympathising hand asking me to get up).
- In Andhra Pradesh (i dont know about other states), recently, ad’s have shown up saying...’’Complete Coverage... Show us where it is not covered and we’ll pay you back....’’. Well, I’ve been a fool not to take up that challenge. Atleast I could have paid an entire 1 year bill (in future) with the amount I win.
But, by far, its the most covered area (Not COMPLETELY covered).
I tried chatting a conference up and I got error messages. Then when I contacted CC, they said that Call Conference is NOT available in Airtel at present. Yet, guess what I saw in their site??? Conference Facility in the VAS list? Is the CCexec or site out of sync??
They are over cautious or GREEDY about bills. While there is no doubt that they need to exercise caution on growing usage in customers, setting them deadlines like 48 hours (even Al-Quida Terrorists are better, they give a longer period sometimes) to make Part payments and disconnecting services if its not met !!!
Here is my Grievence:
On 8th Oct. 2004, in the evening (or Late Noon), I received a call from an airtel number (NOT customer care per se). A female voice asked for Mr. Harsha (thats me....;) )and said...’’Sir, our servers indicate that your usage is very high. Now, we request you to make a Part-Payment of Rs.1300 Immediately’’. Then she proceeded to explain me what Part payment is (the server records the usage and when it finds it very high, it shouts to some one’s attention to ask me to pay some money, and when I pay, it records this level as my normal usage level). Then she told me to make the Payment BEFORE 10th (lo, what are we talking of 24 hrs??? 10th is a Sunday).
NOw, unfortunately, I did not have my ammunition ready (my checkbook was out of leaves and I was waiting for a new one), so I, with difficulty dropped a cheque for Rs.1300 on 10th in one of their drop boxes.
So, whats the story???? On 11th afternoon, my out-going is withdrawn !!!! I panicked and called up the customer care from my mobile (a supposedly toll-free number).....121........and I get ..... ’’Call barring...’’ (meaning I cant reach to CC ))..
Then, I called them from a land line and the female at the other end first confirmed who I am, then she put on hold for 2 minutes and said...
’’Sir, your usage has gone very high, which is very bad !!’’ and then proceeded to explain the system. I interrupted and told her that I have made the payment on Sunday and she told me ’’Sunday is a holiday ’’ (what am I supposed to do for that). Then she assured me that as soon as the cheque is received (or realized, I couldnt hear properly), my outgoing will be restored.
Now, Im waiting...all the while thinking....’’Mera Number Kab aayegaaa???’’ .
God, please put some Trust in Airtel on its Customers. We are not cheaters or run away outlaws.
Hoping to call my Mom as soon as the connection is restored....
(sob sob).
Harsha.