I renewed my subscription to Times of India newspaper for the period from 1st October to 30th September on 17th September giving my cheque. Cheque was collected by Mr. Veeraswami from my home. (He is the same man who collected by subscription for last year on 21.09.11).
Newspaper was not supplied from 1st October as was expected. On questioning, regular newspaper boy said they have not received any instruction from TOI. When I contacted [email protected] (whose email is given at the back of the receipt) by email after a few days, I was told the cheque is not cleared. Then I came to know that the cheque GIVEN ON 17.09.12 was deposited after 1st October. Crm.chennai was so arrogant to tell me by e-mail to issue a ‘stop payment’ order or stop subscription!! By the time cheque was already cleared by my bank. Besides, a stop payment order would have cost me money as bank imposes some charges.
Newspaper was not supplied until 23rd of October. After that newspaper was missing intermittently. Now during the month of December newspaper was missing on 9th, 10th and from 13th to 18th (date of this note). Crm also informed me that new subscription actually starts from 14th October. He/she could not answer as to why newspaper was stopped from 1st October as earlier subscription should have continued till 13th October if crm is to be believed. This shows how ignorant a responsible ‘crm’ is about facts.
In the meantime one gentleman Mr. Madhavan from TOI, Chennai along with agent Mr. Shanmugam had visited my house in October on a fact-finding enquiry trip when I was not at home.
I have sent several e-mails to crm but no action seems to have been taken. Another significant development is: the delivery man had told me to ‘renew subscription with him and not directly with TOI’. As such, when Mr. Veerasami came to renew subscription I called the agent Mr. Shanmugam on the number he had given last year (9841326324). He did not answer the call. (most of the times he will not answer phone calls). Only alternative left to me is to file complaint with Consumer Court against TOI for deficiency in service and cheating.
Newspaper is an essential product which is exempt even from bandhs and hartals.
One thing is clear: the CRM and his/her agent Shanmugham have been successful in discrediting TOI which is a respected newspaper.
I am writing this to various Consumer Organisations to spread TOI’s reputation to maximum number of people!!!
0 comments