[Resolved]  Airtel — Faulty Set Top Box

Address:

Pune, Maharashtra

I have purchased the Airtel SD connection somewhere mid of 2009 & my Cust ID is [protected]. The set top box worked fine till Nov 2012 & thereafter the picture quality started deteriorating. Initially we thought that there could be some problem with the disc adjustment but when the technical person came on lodging the complaint, we came to know that the problem is with the set top box. We asked him the options available, he told that there is only option available which is nothing but to replace the set top box with the refurbished (old repaired) set top box with a cost of Rs. 350/- plus visit charges Rs. 125/- with warranty of 6 months & there is no option to buy a new set to box instead. Further the company does not provide any receipt for any charges paid to them, which to my knowledge, is not allowed in India. I had no choice but to agree with the only option available, unless I decide to change the service provider & get it replaced in Feb 2013. After two months the same problem recurred, logged another complaint, got the set top box replaced with another refurbished (old repaired) with a visit charges of Rs. 125/- paid. This too created problem within two months than again get replaced with the charges paid Rs. 125/-. Now again this setbox started creating problem, but since now the 6 months are over I have to pay another Rs. 350/- plus Rs. 125/-. This time I logged a complaint & told the whole story to the customer care officer. Initially he refused to have anything in there record regarding any such complaint logged by me in the past, in there system. When I told him that I will go to a consumer forum if this is not addressed appropriately, than he connected to some senior officer. Now the story changed & the senior officer accepts that, yes I have logged only one complaint in Feb 2013 & there after they cannot see any complaints logged by me & according to them I was telling lie. The Airtel company is cheating to the common people by deliberately using the inferior parts for repairing so that their other income keeps growing. Two things to support my statement is that first they do not ready to sell a new set top box when the existing is troubling & second they never provide any receipt when it gets changed / repaired, so that no record will be created. I strongly recommend to the consumer to change the service provider immediately whenever they first face this kind of problem. I have read couple of reviews on other sites where the consumer are facing similar problems. Which means that this is a common practice adopted by the company & they are aware of it. I request the Airtel DTH company to reimburse my hard earned money & provide me a compensation of Rs. 2000/- for the unfair dealing & harrassment.