[Resolved]  Airtel — GPRS DATA PLAN FRAUD

I have been a customer of Airtel for the last 3.5 years with the post paid number +[protected] and has promptly paid all dues as possible. Recently, I had enrolled into a GRPS data plan for the same number and was promised that I will be charged Rs199/- for a usage limit of 100Mb per month.

However, my bill dated 22nd September 2009 for the period 20th Aug’09 to 19th Sep ’09 (Bill number[protected] reveals that the billing based on the usage plan has been manipulated for excess billing and can be explained thus:

My overall data usage for the billing period was 7,769 KB or 7.769Mb and according to the plan well within the 100MB usage limit. However, I have been charged a sum of 1038.40 for the data usage (see Bill page 7) and subsequently given a discount of Rs.500 and therefore a net charge of 538.40. The reasoning I have been given for this is that even if I use 1kb of data, I will be charged a minimum of Rs 5/- which is the charge for 1MB. So, technically if I open my browser, I will be charged Rs 5 all though in all reasoning a usage plan means that I will be charged for the total usage in the billing period! This is totally new for me as no usage plan ever measures duration. The billing is calculated on the duration + usage and discount is given on available usage!!!

What is more distressing is that I have in the the meanwhile received another bill for October in which the charges are even more - Rs3335/- for 23.8Mb o[censored]sage!

I am totally annoyed, angered and also have reason to believe that this billing is totally unreasonable as well as unethical. I find this as a means by which Airtel is trying to complicate billing to an extent that unknowing users are charged way above what is the fair charge. I cannot fathom how a reputed company such as Airtel is into such malpractices and deeply hurt by the same.

I have already written to the Nodal Officer and awaiting a reply. I understand that the next step would be to go to the Telecom Appelate. Is there more legal action I can take on the same issue? I want to consider as much legal action that I can take from my side in case the issue is not resolved easily.

Please advice.

Thanks,

Vignesh