Airtel — No Connectivity for my Airtel Sim

On 30 Jul 2021 the signal for my Airtel mobile connection suddenly disappeared. I restarted my mobile but even then the signal was available only momentarily. I even changed the Sim 1 to Sim 2 but to no avail.

I called up Customer Support & they told me there was some fault in the Sim so I'd have to replace the Sim. Due to Lockdown restrictions, the nearby retail shops aren't open & I had to travel 7 kms to find an open Airtel Office in Pattambi. It was already 4:30 pm & I told them my problem.

The staff told me that as the documents submitted are in my wife's name so they won't replace the Sim without my wife being physically present. The KYC was already done & the Original Sim was also there & it was only required to take the same documents & give a duplicate Sim. It wasn't any case of a Missing Sim that I need to go through all the procedures as for a new Connection.

Moreover due to Covid Restrictions people are advised to not go outside unless absolutely necessary. It is so Unsafe to travel for more people & if you get infected by doing such, who's going to take the responsibility? So why the need for such formalities? In a digital age when a new Sim can be home delivered or can be done through Video call, why punish the Consumers by making them wander searching for the open offices & making them run around in the name o[censored]nnecessary formalities.

If their Sim is of faulty make then why should I bear the punishment for their deficiencies? Now because of Weekend Lockdown, their office won't open for 2 days. I have to wait for more than 2 days just to use my own Sim. I'm unable to get any OTP & I am missing so many personal & official calls & due to no mistake of mine.

This is totally a deficiency on their part & they should've provided a duplicate Sim when I visited their office or they should do a home delivery if they feel the need to see the person in real. This should fall under the purview o[censored]nfair Trade Practices.