[Resolved]  DishTV — locked STB, cannot view dd direct+ channels

Address:

West Bengal

Hello,
I am a dishtv(dishtv.in) subscriber. My paid subscription ended on 12/03/2011. I do not like to recharge and for the time being I wish to continue viewing only free-to-air channels that are broadcasted by Dooradarshan using my existing Set-Top-Box. I successfullyconfigured the STB to recieve dd-direct+ channels but after one minute or so, an error message pops up and says "contact[protected]" and then no channel can be viewed. So it is obvious that dishtv is blocking my STB so that I can't view free cahnnels without paying them. This is clear violation of TRAI(Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) rules and regulations.

T.R.A.I rules and regulations(please refer to http://www.trai.gov.in/WriteReadData/trai/upload/Regulations/69/regulation31aug0...⇄ clearly states in page-6 of the PDF document:

"Prohibition to disable Direct To Home Set Top Boxes----- In case the dth subscriber does not owe any dues to a dth operator, such operator shall not disable the dth set-top-box of such subscriber who does not intend to continue to opt or avail dth services offered by such dth operator and uses or intend to use the dth customer premises equipment for viewing the dth services of Dooradarshan or any other dth operator"

I sent a mail complaining about this to dishtv customer care(please refer to previous communications below). Dishtv customer care replied: "Please note that you will not get free to air channels if your VC is in deactive status kindly make the payment to get dishtv service without any interruption."
Then I sent a mail to Mr. Anindya Bose (Dishtv nodal officer for West Bengal, I found the mail id from: www.dishtv.in/Resources/NodalOfficer.pdf). I kept [protected]@trai.gov.in and [protected]@trai.gov.in in cc. I am still waiting for a a reply from him.

Below are the full texts of mails I have sent to dishtv customer care and nodal officer::


Mail to dishtv customer care::

Hello,
My paid subscription ended yesterday. I wish to recharge some days
later. For the time being I like to view only free-to-air channels. But I am
unable to do so. Every time I switch on the STB it shows a message saying
"contact[protected]". I am using Arion AF-5010SCI STB. In the dishtv user
manual on page 10 it has been clearly written "*If any smartcard or CI
module is not inserted in the STB only free-to-air-channels are available*".
I removed the smart card but still can't view any free-to-air channel.

Please let me know how to continue viewing free-to-air channels.



To dishtv nodal officer::



from kusan biswas <kusan.[protected]@gmail.com>
to [protected]@dishtv.in
cc [protected]@trai.gov.in,
[protected]@trai.gov.in
date Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 2:07 PM
subject Re: free to air channels
mailed-by gmail.com

hide details Mar 15 (2 days ago)

Sir,
I am a dishTv subscriber (vc no. - [protected]). My paid subscription ended on 12/03/2011. I do not like to recharge and for the time being I wish to continue viewing only free-to-air channels. But every time I switch on the STB I do not get any FTA and an error message says "contact[protected]. I sent a mail complaining about this to dishtv customer care(please refer to previous communications below). Your customer care replied: "Please note that you will not get free to air channels if your VC is in deactive status kindly make the payment to get dishtv service without any interruption."

T.R.A.I (Telecom Regulatory Authority Of India) rules and regulations(please refer to http://www.trai.gov.in/WriteReadData/trai/upload/Regulations/69/regulation31aug0...⇄ clearly states in page-6 of the PDF document:

"Prohibition to disable Direct To Home Set Top Boxes----- In case the dth subscriber does not owe any dues to a dth operator, such operator shall not disable the dth set-top-box of such subscriber who does not intend to continue to opt or avail dth services offered by such dth operator and uses or intend to use the dth customer premises equipment for viewing the dth services of Dooradarshan or any other dth operator"

I do not owe any due to Dishtv and wish to use the STB to view only FTA channels. But DishTv, as a DTH operator is barring me to do so and demanding subscription to view FTA channels. Please note that, this is a direct violation of TRAI rules and regulations and I request to you to take necessary action to correct this fault on your part such such that I can continue to view FTA cahnnels that are broadcasted by Dooradarshan as "DD direct+".



Thanks & Regards,
Kusan Biswas.
mobile: 0963528xxxx
mail: kusan.[protected]@gmail.com
- Hide quoted text -



On Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 2:05 AM, customercare <[protected]@dishtv.in> wrote:

Dear Kusan,

Thank you for writing to dishtv.

We thank you for being a valuable customer for last 5 years.

We would like to inform you that VC [protected] is in deactive status due to renewal and last renewal date was 12/03/2011.

Please note that you will not get free to air channels if your VC is in deactive status kindly make the payment to get dishtv service without any interruption.

Please note that to get more information about dishtv kindly visit our website www.dishtv.in

We value your association and assure you of our commitment to serve you with a smile.

Regards,
Aman Kumar
Customer service
DISHTV


Did our response resolve your query? Please Click on the link below to give us your valuable feedback.
http://202.46.200.213/PaymentAuditDetails/CustomerFeedback.aspx?Mid=kusan.[prote...⇄gmail.com&Aid=aman_k1021&Cid=4570655

Only MTNL/BSNL lines :[protected];Only non MTNL/BSNL lines :[protected]Prefix 011 for North; 022 for West; 033 for East; 044 for South); All lines:[protected]; to get a prompt call back from dishtv SMS- DISHTV CALL ME to 57575 from your Registered Mobile Number.
To Register your Mobile Number SMS - DISHTV RMN <VC No> to 57575

[protected][protected][protected][protected][protected][protected][protected][pr...⇄
Hello,
My paid subscription ended yesterday. I wish to recharge some days
later. For the time being I like to view only free-to-air channels. But I am
unable to do so. Every time I switch on the STB it shows a message saying
"contact[protected]". I am using Arion AF-5010SCI STB. In the dishtv user
manual on page 10 it has been clearly written "*If any smartcard or CI
module is not inserted in the STB only free-to-air-channels are available*".
I removed the smart card but still can't view any free-to-air channel.

Please let me know how to continue viewing free-to-air channels.

Regards,
Kusan Biswas.
cell: 09635288xxx



In short my main complains are:

a)Dishtv has locked the set-top-box so that I can not use the STB with dth service providers other than dishtv. I can not even use the STB to receive free-to-air cahnnels broadcast by Dooradrashan.

b)False promise: In the dishtv manual that dishtv provided me at the time of subscription, it has been clearly written, "If any smartcard or CI module is not inserted in the STB only free-to-air-channels are available", which is nothing but a false promise. I removed the smart card but no free-to-air channels are there. The screen goes black and an error message says "Insert smart card".



Authorities at https://www.consumercomplaints.in I request you to please look into the matter and take necessary actions to force dishtv to abide by TRAI rules and regulations. The problem I described above is not only mine, crores of dth subscribers are facing this problem.