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I'm from Delhi, have got Airtel 699 unlimited internet plan. In this plan, I can use unlimited internet (@128kbps speed). Now, because its unlimited, the bill I usually get each month is the same - Rs 699+Service tax = Rs 785.
Everything was fine till August 10 2007, when someone from Airtel broadband called up and asked if I wanted to subscribe to Airtel Games on Demand - a service which allows the user to download and play full pc games online at a cost of Rs 199 per month. I flatly refused..but he insisted, saying that Airtel is providing a free one month trial, and I should first try and then decide.
I finally agreed, thinking whats the harm if they're providing the service was free. An engineer visited my house within 2 hours, and installed the required software to use the service. He told me that its free for the first month, and I just need to unsubscribe before the month ends so that I'm not billed for it in the following months. But what happened next was completely unexpected.
The bill for the month of August arrived around August 23 (remember, I started using the service from August 10), and it included extra charges of Rs199 for the month - the month for which I had been promised a free trial! I called up the customer care and told them the story of the free one month trial, and I also asked them to unsubscribe me from the Airtel Games on Demand Service ASAP...they said they'll look into it and get the amount waived and also unsubscribe me. I wasn't reassured though..I called up the customer care again after a couple of days and asked them the status of my previous complaint. The reply I got was that a mail has been forwarded to the requisite department and they're looking into it. I asked them to please call me up about the status of the complaint whenever there's an update.
I did not get any calls in the next 3-4 days. So I called the customer care again, and told them that I'm fed up and that I will only pay my normal monthly bill of Rs 785 and nothing extra. The person at the other end offered his apologies and said he'l surely get the amount waived and get me unsubscribed from the stupid service. Meanwhile, waiting for their call, the bill due date (12th September) went off.and I got a call from the airtel billing department asking me to pay the bill. I told them that you first get my complaint resolved and then I'; pay the bill. he said.."sir, you at least pay your normal monthly bill. I'l definitely get the extra amount waived off in the next bill". Reassured, I payed an amount of Rs 825 (Rs785+ late payment fee of Rs 50).
But September's bill had another shock. It stated that i had an opening unpaid balance of Rs 199 and also included another Rs 199 as Airtel Games on Demand (GoD) charges (which I never used and had cried myself hoarse to get unsubscribed from) for the month of September! (which means Rs785+199+199 = Rs1183) I called up airtel customer care again and got similar responses! Frustrated..I decided I'l just pay my normal monthly bill of Rs 785 each time now, and ignore any extra things they add.
Airtel again added the GoD charges in my October bill, and again I payed my normal monthly amount of Rs 785. And, now, I have the latest bill in hand (dated 24/11/2007) which says that I have:
opening balance Rs 474
Monhtly Charges Rs 699
DSL usage charges Rs 199 (GoD charges to be precise)
Account level charges Rs 50 (late payment charge I think..but this time the bill was on time!))
Taxes Rs 111
So, the amount payable before due date of 13/12/2007 is Rs 1533.
I decided it was time for action now, else they'l keep on adding Rs 199 to my bill each month with total disregard to the endless complaints I have made to their customer care to de-activate the service. In normal circumstances my bill used to have only monthly charges + taxes, but now things are going out of control.
I want to move the consumer court against Airtel broadband I request your help in this regard.
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