[Resolved]  Airtel — Online recharge failure - No refund received

Address:

Mysore, Karnataka

Reference: Online recharge dated 31.12.2012 ; Transaction ID: 186192

I used Airtel's online recharge facility (http://goo.gl/41IK9) to recharge my friend's Airtel prepaid number on 31.12.2012 at 23:54hrs. I immediately got a confirmation mail stating "Transaction processed successfully". An amount of Rs.249/- was also promptly debited from my SBI account.

Much to my surprise, my friend had not received the recharge for said amount even until the next evening. Nor has he received till date! While I understand that transaction failures aren't unusual, my experience with other such online facilities tells me that the due process during an event of transaction failure is to refund the amount not later than 15days.

So on 02.01.2013, I consulted the Airtel office in Mahadeshwara Nagar, Mysore regarding the same. They advised me to take it up with the "Customer care executive" on Airtel's helpline -121.

Since then I have narrated my grievance to at least 5 customer care executives over a period of one month. None seemed to help nor offered any solutions. The executives' advice ranged from "You-will-receive-the-refund-within-7-days" to absurd ones like "You-have-to-the-consult-the-SBI-Branch-manager!!".

I sent mails to Airtel's customer care / grievances (121.[protected]@airtel.com) explaining the same to no avail.

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Manoj Joseph
Mysore