The Airtel update

Airtel has a systematic method of extortion.

Read the beginning of the problem – Airtel Billing harassment.

Since then, I had been getting a steady stream of their goons asking for money. Couple of them were rude, all of them threatening legal action, and none of them knowing the problems in the case – basically, all my complaints have never entered their system. I asked. Nothing. Nor any intimations from @airtel_presence – which they told me they had asked someone to look into the matter – in public tweets. Two complaints I filed got closed without a single word with me or even informing me. After everything, their record is that I am defaulting on their bill.

On the 18th June, I started getting calls suggesting settlement from their legal department. My routine bill was Rs.350/-. The inflated bill I refused to pay was for over Rs.9,000/- I had not used the phone, they say I used it. their word against mine, but they can print on paper, so they are right Read earlier post for details. They suggested a settlement at Rs.2,500/-. I asked for a statement saying that. They refused – saying that that is not how things happen, but I would get a receipt. I called Airtel helpline, the only help I got was that their legal department handles these things, and to follow their advice. Tweeted @airtel_presence on Twitter for confirmation that their legal department. No specific response other than an email address. By the time I got this response, not enough time for email consultations, the guy was there.

With me having many headaches to juggle already, I decided to pay the amount. They wanted cash, I paid cheque. Was told phone number would start working by the 26th. 26th came and went. I contacted @airtel_presence on Twitter. Few hours later, I got one of the goons back to extort the “balance amount”. They had taken my payment and credited it against their manufactured outstanding and want me to pay the balance. No clearing of outstanding happened. The receipt they gave me states : this receipt not to be considered for full and final settlements in any  circumstances, which I hadn’t noticed because of Nisarga throwing a tantrum at the same time as the goon came.

So now, my much needed money has been stolen by the bastards, my phone is still not working, and their goons are still harassing me. If you are using Airtel, think again.

Seriously think again, because all I was doing was using Rs.350/- worth of their network every month when this hit.

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28 thoughts on “The Airtel update”

  1. hi vidyut,

    Even i m facing the same problem.. i filled a complaint against the service and then i told dem to stopped the service bt dey didnot respond now they sent me a bill amount of Rs. 2000. Thats really pathetic.. Suggest me somethng !!! i dont want to pay the amount since i have nt use it and moreova its not my problem.. 

  2. hi vidyut,

    Even i m facing the same problem.. i filled a complaint against the service and then i told dem to stopped the service bt dey didnot respond now they sent me a bill amount of Rs. 2000. Thats really pathetic.. Suggest me somethng !!! i dont want to pay the amount since i have nt use it and moreova its not my problem.. 

  3. this is ridiculous.what kind of customer support is this.try finding some PR guy of airtel on twitter and tell him.may be he can help.this is downright weird

  4. this is ridiculous.what kind of customer support is this.try finding some PR guy of airtel on twitter and tell him.may be he can help.this is downright weird

  5. Dude. It gets worse. Broadband disconnection request was accepted. 6 months ago. They continue to bill. We continue to raise issues each time. They accept that something is wrong. Meanwhile the goons call. Then so-called lawyers. Now someone claiming to be from the Delhi police station with a non-bailable arrest warrant. We could try a class action against Airtel for harassment. No response from Airtel Presence, of course.

  6. Dude. It gets worse. Broadband disconnection request was accepted. 6 months ago. They continue to bill. We continue to raise issues each time. They accept that something is wrong. Meanwhile the goons call. Then so-called lawyers. Now someone claiming to be from the Delhi police station with a non-bailable arrest warrant. We could try a class action against Airtel for harassment. No response from Airtel Presence, of course.

  7. I am facing the same issues with Airtel with inflated bills for mobile downloads i had not used, my case has just started and they have sent an inflated bill of 15k instead of average 700 that i was getting, all the complaints right upto nodal officer are getting unilaterally closed, i am gearing up for a long fight ahead ….keep watching my post

  8. I am facing the same issues with Airtel with inflated bills for mobile downloads i had not used, my case has just started and they have sent an inflated bill of 15k instead of average 700 that i was getting, all the complaints right upto nodal officer are getting unilaterally closed, i am gearing up for a long fight ahead ….keep watching my post

  9. This month, I was travelling to USA and 1st time was on Airtel roaming (till date used Vodafone intr. roaming) and Airtel was raising bill of almost Rs. 1,000 everyday (Data services were off, and I was hardly making/ receiving ph. calls as I had a local USA mobile no) in last few days I switched off ph. too and still … 
    When I came back to India, I asked for detailed bill and Airtel guys said, it will come in monthly bill statement only and right now they can not tell. I’m waiting for next week, when I will get chance to see.But reading other comments, Im sure, Airtel is going to charge me for not even using the phone! Super Fail!

  10. This month, I was travelling to USA and 1st time was on Airtel roaming (till date used Vodafone intr. roaming) and Airtel was raising bill of almost Rs. 1,000 everyday (Data services were off, and I was hardly making/ receiving ph. calls as I had a local USA mobile no) in last few days I switched off ph. too and still … 
    When I came back to India, I asked for detailed bill and Airtel guys said, it will come in monthly bill statement only and right now they can not tell. I’m waiting for next week, when I will get chance to see.But reading other comments, Im sure, Airtel is going to charge me for not even using the phone! Super Fail!

  11. You really shouldn’t have paid that amount if you had not used their services. Airtel Delhi has a definite problem. I’ve been charged for services I’ve not used. And I made it a point to not pay a single paisa and get them to adjust their bills. 

    I suffered similar high-handedness some time back. They kept calling me, asking for a guy who I didn’t know. The guy used my number as his alternate number, defaulted and disappeared. So they kept calling me for collections, and also turned abusive. They kept calling me repeatedly so I finally had to take the matter to the appellate. The appellate was initially reluctant to do anything. Finally I said I was moving to Vodafone. Funnily, this ‘threat’ worked. They finally instructed their collection department to stop harassing me. 

    Make a lot of noise in the right places. There’s no other way to fix crooked people. 

  12. You really shouldn’t have paid that amount if you had not used their services. Airtel Delhi has a definite problem. I’ve been charged for services I’ve not used. And I made it a point to not pay a single paisa and get them to adjust their bills. 

    I suffered similar high-handedness some time back. They kept calling me, asking for a guy who I didn’t know. The guy used my number as his alternate number, defaulted and disappeared. So they kept calling me for collections, and also turned abusive. They kept calling me repeatedly so I finally had to take the matter to the appellate. The appellate was initially reluctant to do anything. Finally I said I was moving to Vodafone. Funnily, this ‘threat’ worked. They finally instructed their collection department to stop harassing me. 

    Make a lot of noise in the right places. There’s no other way to fix crooked people. 

  13. Airtel seems keep screwing up again and again and again. Getting goons to call customers! And the sad part is that this is happening to a lot of customers who are calling us at Akosha. 

    From what I understand, a lot of the telcos sell their “bad debts” (more like wrongly charged amounts) to third parties at a discount and then it is up to the third parties to use threats, and harassment to get the customer to pay (whether it is justified or not). So sending a lok adalat notice or calling up your friends to ask them questions about you has become a normal for these telcos. 

    And to top is all, the legal redressal mechanism for getting your complaint here is a mess in itself. Here is a link – http://www.akosha.com/consumer-complaints/article/mess-telecom-complaints-india-comprehensive-review

    We do hope that your complaint gets resolved – I personally got mine resolved by escalating it – and this is how I did it – http://akosha.com/consumer-complaints/article/airtel-live-v-gprs-issue-%E2%80%93-experience-airtel-customer-care.

    Do let us know if we can help out in any way.

    Regards,
    Ankur
    Founder at Akosha

  14. Airtel seems keep screwing up again and again and again. Getting goons to call customers! And the sad part is that this is happening to a lot of customers who are calling us at Akosha. 

    From what I understand, a lot of the telcos sell their “bad debts” (more like wrongly charged amounts) to third parties at a discount and then it is up to the third parties to use threats, and harassment to get the customer to pay (whether it is justified or not). So sending a lok adalat notice or calling up your friends to ask them questions about you has become a normal for these telcos. 

    And to top is all, the legal redressal mechanism for getting your complaint here is a mess in itself. Here is a link – http://www.akosha.com/consumer-complaints/article/mess-telecom-complaints-india-comprehensive-review

    We do hope that your complaint gets resolved – I personally got mine resolved by escalating it – and this is how I did it – http://akosha.com/consumer-complaints/article/airtel-live-v-gprs-issue-%E2%80%93-experience-airtel-customer-care.

    Do let us know if we can help out in any way.

    Regards,
    Ankur
    Founder at Akosha

  15. Airtel charged me Rs 10 twice [on consecutive days exactly at 4.30 pm ] for having downloaded a game called Hungamaa. I complained against these charges, since I don’t even access internet through my phone. A lady called me to say that they have reversed the charges as a goodwill and warned [!] me that I should pay if I download next time. I told them that there will be no next time as I am changing my service provider.

  16. Airtel charged me Rs 10 twice [on consecutive days exactly at 4.30 pm ] for having downloaded a game called Hungamaa. I complained against these charges, since I don’t even access internet through my phone. A lady called me to say that they have reversed the charges as a goodwill and warned [!] me that I should pay if I download next time. I told them that there will be no next time as I am changing my service provider.

  17. Shrikrishna Warkhedi

    Seriously! Im changing my service provider soon! My ajjis phone had the same prob! We contacted them and there was no response! We left that matter there and deactivated all the VAS Now again they have started and balnce reduces everyday……Airtel sucks! Now that 3 months are over i can port my no. No i wont cos there again il have prob with these guys!! Best thing is that il get a new Vodafone connection! It will be hassle free atleast!

  18. Shrikrishna Warkhedi

    Seriously! Im changing my service provider soon! My ajjis phone had the same prob! We contacted them and there was no response! We left that matter there and deactivated all the VAS Now again they have started and balnce reduces everyday……Airtel sucks! Now that 3 months are over i can port my no. No i wont cos there again il have prob with these guys!! Best thing is that il get a new Vodafone connection! It will be hassle free atleast!

  19. I had similar problems with Airtel…not with bill payment but because they turned off my connection without as much as sending me an email or sms because I hadn’t used the line for 15 days since I got the connection. No one told me I had to do that. Ridiculous buggers!

  20. I had similar problems with Airtel…not with bill payment but because they turned off my connection without as much as sending me an email or sms because I hadn’t used the line for 15 days since I got the connection. No one told me I had to do that. Ridiculous buggers!

  21. Ms Kale, our team is already working on your concern. Please allow us time to resolve & revert to you.  Our apologies for the unpleasant experience you have had.

    Regards,

    Airtel Presence

    1. Appreciate your quick response. It was the same every time I contacted you. Unfortunately, on the doing end, they seem to reboot to a canned statement every time and always with a new person. This is the third time you have requested attention on my behalf with the support. 

      Previous two times are not on their record for my case. Let’s hope this time is different. As for patience… I really don’t use the phone. Just like to have it handy for receiving calls – which isn’t something I enjoy either 😀 . I have all the time in the world. Nor do I have a choice. What will be, will be.

  22. Ms Kale, our team is already working on your concern. Please allow us time to resolve & revert to you.  Our apologies for the unpleasant experience you have had.

    Regards,

    Airtel Presence

    1. Appreciate your quick response. It was the same every time I contacted you. Unfortunately, on the doing end, they seem to reboot to a canned statement every time and always with a new person. This is the third time you have requested attention on my behalf with the support. 

      Previous two times are not on their record for my case. Let’s hope this time is different. As for patience… I really don’t use the phone. Just like to have it handy for receiving calls – which isn’t something I enjoy either 😀 . I have all the time in the world. Nor do I have a choice. What will be, will be.

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