Idea Cellular — Regarding Excessive billing of Mobile Data Plan for International Roaming

Address:

Pune, Maharashtra

Hello Sir/Madam, This is Vivek Shrungarpure Idea Cellular postpaid old Customer using the number +[protected] for availing idea cellular services national and international roaming (On and Off). I just want to bring to your notice the mal-practice going on from Idea Cellular end towards me and my number due to which I have been charged with huge bill of Rs. 7500/- (for the month of Jan’15) and around Rs. 9500/- (for the month of Feb’15) and the reason I have been told by Idea Cellular Customer care is these are charges for “Whatsup usage international roaming charges” on my data plan which I took it from Pune (Maharashtra) in the month of Aug’14 and this data plan was 2G limited Data plan costing me charges of Rs. 99/- per month. Now in line with above Concern from an existing Idea Customer I have to let you know few more facts and details which are alarming to me and is cause of worry for me and for others who would be using Idea Cellular services national and international down the line. I took the International calling/roaming facility from Idea Cellular store from Pune in the month of May’14 approx. by paying refundable deposit of Rs. 2000/- and at that time I was only told of International Calling and SMS charges. There was no mention of International roaming charges for Data Plan as well. Nor there was any email/verbal communication or any correspondence from Idea Cellular on the International roaming charges for Data Plan. This was during the duration Mar’14 to Aug’14 when I was in Sydney for my project assignment. I again have to come to Sydney in the month of Nov’14 and I got my International Roaming activated and I was using my WiFi connection at home and Lebara national unlimited in Sydney to access my Whatsup messages. But suddenly I observed that the billing for the month of Dec’14 and Jan’14 there was a rise of Data Plan charges to Rs. 7500/- and Rs. 9500/- respectively from Idea end and when contacted Idea Cellular Customer care it was told to me that this is mainly because I am in International roaming and in that Idea Cellular automatically converts anyone’s Limited Data plan (Rs. 99/- per month) to unlimited Data Plan due to which I have been charges so much. This change of Data plan was done without any prior intimation or communication through email or verbally. When I asked for why there was no communication then I was told that Idea Cellular assumes that Customers who are taking International Calling facility are already aware that their Data plan charges will be based on International Roaming and their existing data plan will get converted to unlimited Data plan. Also from past one month I have disconnected my SIM card so not sure how come Idea cellular team are getting pulses of my Data plan based on which they have come up with bill amount of Rs. 9500/-. This really sounds un-realistic to me and hence I am sincerely requesting you to please look into this issue as a matter o[censored]rgency as me and my in-laws in India have been called on regular basis to pay the outstanding bill without due diligence done by Idea Cellular team. I also want to bring to your notice that Idea Cellular (Neha – 91 [protected]) have contacted my father and sister in-law, the number they have found from my billing records and I am now concerned @ my private numbers been shared by Idea cellular to external agency without my consent and this is a breach of policy from Idea Cellular wherein Customer’s details cannot be shared by any of the subscriber as per my understanding without Customer’s consent. I also want to request Consumer team to look into this issue and this is straight forward a case of cheating from Idea Cellular team wherein without any communication of change in Data plan charges customer has been asked to pay the billing indifferences with no fault of the customer. It’s not that I don’t want to pay this huge bill charges as if idea cellular team if required can investigated this issue and will find that I have paid bills of amount upto Rs. 4300/- per month when I know that I have used the International calling facility and this was done for 3-4 months without any concerns raised by my end. I again request all of you people to help me and give me reasonable solution that can allow me to continue Idea Cellular services in future as there is no problem per say from Idea Cellular services like coverage etc. but it’s mainly due to the wrong charges that I am here today. Thanks & Regards, Vivek Shrungarpure – One of Idea's esteemed customer who would still like to continue your services.