Since time immemorial I have been using the airtel prepaid service available here. The service was immaculate and I never had any problems with it. One fine day the BPL mobile service came up with this with one of a kind offer for prepaid customers.
The salient features of which are listed below.
Starter pack: Rs150 with Rs100 talktime.
Validity: 6 months
One second pulse
Free national and local SMS
Free roaming in neighbouring Kerala.
And recharge cards with very high talktime.
Though I was very hesitant to switch, I took the plunge keeping in mind the cliché ?human nature resists a change especially if it is for the good?. Unfortunately, all my ideologies were thrown into the trash can with this experience.
I realized that not only was the network always busy, but the coverage was also pathetic. It was next to impossible to make or receive calls during the peak times.
The free SMS they promised had a limit!! One could send messages worth Rs 50 a day in accordance with their normal charges. The one second pulse was only for local calls and it started from 60 paise. i.e. if a person made a one minute call he would be charged Rs1.20 wheras other subscribers charge only rs1 or 90 paise per minute for local calls.
The 6 month validity was off if one recharged before the period and the customer care service could only be reached between midnight and five a.m.
The final insult came when I made a pleasure trip to neighbouring Kerala. I found solace by thinking atleast I would get free roaming with this service. I was proved wrong by being charged five rupees per day of my stay.
Baffled by this I called up the customer care service to get this reply;
?Yes sir, it is free, we charge an outright five rupees per day and then u can enjoy free incoming calls. Sir, isn?t it better than being charged for every incoming call??
Amazing right!!!! I hope this drives my point through?. the baton is in your hands now..