[Resolved]  Bharti Airtel — Systematic fraud

Address:

Bangalore, Karnataka

1.I am a resident of Bangalore, Koramangla, and had applied for a transfer of my existing broadband service to Airtel. Application number TBLR6813099 was taken by an Airtel executive on 16th of April for a connection to be started on the 13th of May 2014. I have copies of the cheque, application form stating starting date as 13th May, and all relevant documentation. I had also told the sales team clearly that I want to transfer my existing connection to Airtel, and they confirmed that a later connection date is possible. 2. The executive who came home to take the application forged my application form, and wrote the wrong amount on the form after taking a different sum from me. I complained and he came right back and returned the extra charge. He claimed that the charges were documentation charges that were unnecessary now because Airtel had waived them off. I told him that I did not believe him and will lodge a complaint on the fraud committed by an Airtel sales executive on behalf of Airtel. 3. On complaining to Airtel, I was told he'll be acted against. I have proof of my original application copy and receipts. He called and threatened me that he was losing his job because of my complaint and would hassle me about it. The liability for this criminal intimidation is also Airtel's. 4. While the Airtel sales team again and again emphasized that a post-dated cheque and a later activation date is possible, they attempted to put in my cheque immediately after the sales executive left. The executive refused to return my application form as well as cheque, and when I complained to the call center, I was sent an email and SMS to the effect that there is a technical fault in my area, due to which connection is delayed. I received a call daily from an Airtel executive from Chennai apologizing in advance stating that the connection may be delayed due to technical faults in the area. I was told that it would be rectified before my connection start date in any case. 5. My bank obviously returned the cheque to the provider because it was a post-dated cheque for a much later activation date and I was not even a customer of Airtel's yet. I was charged a return cheque charge because of Airtel's misrepresentation of information and forceful attempt to issue a connection without installing one. 6. I called the Airtel customer care and complained and I was told that it is my fault to have believed the sales team, for there is no procedure for taking a form to give me a connection at a later date, such a facility is not available with any provider. 7. I asked to speak to the manager of the customer care executive, and she told me very rudely that she was not here to listen to my complaints but to follow her process, and in her process all she could see was there is a technical issue in my area and I can call back later. As for wrongly attempting to en-cash my cheque, she cannot help me, it is my fault to have believed the airtel sales executive. I am filing a complaint both because such matters should be taken cognizance of by regulatory authorities who aim to protect consumer rights, and also by consumers who are regularly applying to such providers for connections.