Aircel
Deactivation without warning

I had procured am Aircel prepaid connection (No 8898800105) with the intention of using it as a internet connection when on the move. However as a nascent network, it had a lot of blind spots and the coverage was average at best as most new networks tend to be. It is almost unusable for internet when the signal tends to waver.

I therefore put the SIM aside along with the clutch of internet recharges that I had purchased and hoped to use as the network progressed into a more stable and seamless one.

As I plugged in my SIM today after more than two months I found that the phone refused to log onto the network. I called customer care that asked me only for my cell no but not any other personal details. She asked me to do a recharge to resolve the issue which I did so promptly. The SIM card was not reactivated.

I approached the Opera House gallery. To my horror, I was told that the card had been deactivated and had been recycled to another customer because I had not used the phone for above two months.

This means that I have been summarily deactivated without prior warning because I had not used a network that was not completely and fully functional, and for my belief that, given time the Aircel network would improve. On top of it I end up recharging someone elses account due to the negligence of the customer care.

I have been working with other major operators. No one treats consumers with so much disdain even if they are small users. None of my accounts with Loop (Prepaid), Reliance (Postpaid), Vodafone (Prepaid), Ida (Prepaid) or Airtel (Prepaid) have posed any problems or had to be terminated

I found the behaviour of Aircel extremely high-handed and unprofessional on the whole.

Consumers thus stand to lose whatever amount they have charged their prepaid accounts with for no fault of their own. I still am holding a couple of internet recharge vouchers that I had purchased for use when the network improved and became usable. Add the recharge to another account. This amounts to deficiency in service.

I was too disgusted to say anything to the fine Parsi gentleman at the Aircel shop, Opera House and so was he at the turn of events.

Dr Himanshu Sheth.

Company: Aircel
Country: India
State: Maharashtra
City: Mumbai City

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