| Address: | Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka |
I was under the 499 unlimited broadband plan that used to give me good speed during 25 out of thirty days of my billing cycle. My monthly bill regularly used to be around Rs 550/- Of late, Airtel started mentioning that I have utilised my full capacity of high speed internet within a day of the billing cycle. I realized that they had actually discontinued the 499 unlimited plan and wanted existing customers to voluntarily get out and change to other plans. Such a ploy was an attempt to frustrate consumers to upgrade.
In mid November 2011, I fell for this and upgraded to 899 unlimited 10GB mega plan (at the Saibeen complex outlet, MG road, Mangalore). I was told the change would be effected only during the next billing cycle i.e. from 26th November, 2011 and could not be done mid-cycle. I accepted. I was surprised when I received an SMS on around 28th Nov, 2011, asking me to pay Rs 2324.31. As usual, when the bills are fudged, Airtel does not send a printed bill!!-Only an SMS. I complained to [protected]@airtel.in (complaint no:8733550) regarding non receipt of printed bill. This was promised by e-mail to be sorted out by 6.30PM on 20th Dec, 2011. I received no bill but at around 7 PM on 20th dec, 2011, I received an SMS from Airtel saying that the complaint has been resolved (with no bill yet sent!!) and asked me to reply whether I am satisfied by a YES/NO reply SMS. The "No" reply failed to reach its destination...
As regards the error in the billing, my enquiries through the sales representative gave me the information that the Company had inserted a LIMITED 599 plan as an interim between the shift over from 499 unlimited to 899 unlimited. Hence the inflated bill. This was done unilaterally without my instructions. Which consumer in his senses would request for a limited plan between two unlimited plans?? The complaint on the erroneous bill[protected] was to be resolved by 21st Dec, 2011. 6.30PM. This is yet unresolved. There has been no verbal communication from any Airtel representative during this period.
It is clear that Airtel is indulging in unfair trade practices. I plan to approach the consumer forum in case they do not accept their mistake and continue to send me the earlier inflated bill as pending from my side. Was this information helpful? | 
So we go the regular route try contact the customer service etc but we get no response except one - "There is no Error in the billing". You request for a meeting and get none.
But to top it all the Airtel executive abuse. Yes you head me right... THEY ABUSE. While speaking to the sales executive who sold us this connection, our office manager was verbally abused by Mr. Gautam Sachdeva - Sr. Sales executive from Delhi. A series of humiliating statements, He even went to the extent of saying that small companies, who cannot afford Airtel should not take these services.
Over billing customers is something Airtel does all the time! So if you are getting an offer that seems to be too good to be true. Beware!
Express yourself - Airtel Employee take this very seriously even if they are misbehaving with their customers.