Airtel POST PAID fraud
Cheating Customers

Hi everyone,

I'm Sri from Hyderabad. I've been an Airtel Mobile customer from last 5 years. I do have Airtel Landline, Broadband and DTH services from last 2 years or so. I want to highlight one of AIRTEL's FRAUD behavior which they started recently.

I've been paying the yearly rental for my brother's post-paid number (99599-55589) from last 2 years as he left to USA. The number got disabled in July and when I asked for the activation, Airtel people asked me to submit my brother's documents (which I cannot). They also mentioned that the SAME number will be released in October and then I CAN TAKE IT AS A NEW CONNECTION. At last in December the 99599-55589 was released and I applied for new connection on my name with all the required documents. I paid around 1700 rupees for it:

BALANCE CLEARANCE: 300

SECURITY DEPOSIT: 500

YEARLY RENTAL PLAN: 899

My 99599-55589 number got activated on December 27th and used it for 2 to 3 days. around the same time I got a call (ONLY ONCE) from Airtel asking for my available time at home for address verification. I gave the timing as 'after 5pm on weekdays' or 'anytime on weekends'. There the story ends and on Jan 29th (after the PAY-BY-DATE) I received the one month bill. I went to pay the bill (ALONG WITH THE LATE FEE) and was left to shock after knowing that my NEW NUMBER IS PERMANENTLY DISCONNECTED for VERIFICATION FAILURE.. God - Save me!

They argued with me saying that they called me 3 to 4 times and as i was not willing to verify the address, they have canceled the connection. They cited my "AVAILABILITY TIME" as the reason of CLOSURE. Even after so much of humiliation, I've controlled myself and just for the sake of RETAINING my BROTHER's FANCY NUMBER - I've agreed to re-submit my documents.

When I went to re-submit the same documents again 2 days later (March 2nd 2010), I was speechless with their argument. THEY ARE ASKING ME TO PAY THE DEPOSIT RENTAL (1400) again.. Tried to fight with them over their suspicious behavior and have given up after some time.

I'm anyways planning to MOVE THIS ISSUE TO CONSUMER COURT NEXT WEEK... will keep updated.

Questions:

1. Do we need to stay back at home all the time for verifying the address?

2. Airtel has the same address on my LANDLINE - DTH - PREPAID - BROADBAND connections with same name and mobile number. How can they not check the current records for verification??

3. Why do i need to pay the DEPOSIT RENT again when i'm taking on the same name/documents?

Company: Airtel POST PAID fraud
Country: India

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