[Resolved]  Idea Cellular Ltd — Wrong Billing & Customer Harrsment

Enclosed mail is self explainatory and gives you the taste of pain I am going through

Dear Arvind,

Thanks for your support to bring resolution on this long pending issue. Though vide appended mail dated June 10, 2009 you have confirmed to credit my mobile account by Rs.313/- for the number [protected], I have been issued 02 Notices from your office to settle the entire amount of Rs.532/-.

The said notices dated June 10, 2009 are delivered to my residential address yesterday i.e. 17th June 2009. Of the 02 notices raised on me one is from your recovery department and other is from your advocate Mohit Gadkari & Co.

I am quite confused because your appended mail states I need to pay only Rs.220/- whereas your Recovery Department & Advocate are claiming for Rs.532/-. Hence need your support in knowing what is the final payment due from my side? If it is a mistake from your recovery department and advocate then please send them the proper communication with a copy to me to avoid further inconvenience.

The waiver given to me is not out of favor but is for the rectification of mistake from your end. This shows clear lapse in the system which results in mere harassment of the customer wherein you impose faulty charges and then send unnecessary communications/notices with the threat legal action for recovery. If this nuisance is not stopped immediately then unfortunately I also need to approach Consumer Forum.

Appreciate your prompt response.

Thanks
Bhalchandra Bhogate

[protected][protected][protected][protected]
From: Care Mumbai [mailto:care.[protected]@idea.adityabirla.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 9:03 AM
To: Bhogate, Bhalchandra
Subject: Final Demand Letter for Overdue Amount Against O/s of A/c ID: 1.11076186

Dear Mr. Bhogate,

Thank you for writing to Idea Cellular Ltd.

With reference to your email and our telephonic conversation on [protected], we would like to inform you that the necessary waiver Rs. 313 will be credited in your idea account shortly for the mobile number [protected].

We regret the inconvenience caused to you.

We would like to be associated with you in future.

Regards,
Arvind Joshi
Customer Care
Idea Cellular Ltd.

In case you require any further assistance, please:

1. Call the toll free number 12345, available only from your Idea mobile, anywhere across India.
2. Call at [protected], in case you are not using an Idea connection (not a toll free number).
3. Write us at care.[protected]@idea.adityabirla.com
[protected][protected][protected][protected]

From: Bhogate, Bhalchandra
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2009 9:24 AM
To: Care Mumbai
Subject: Final Demand Letter for Overdue Amount Against O/s of A/c ID: 1.11076186
Importance: High

Dear Sir / Madam,

This is with references to subject demand letter No. Idea/Mum/FDL/0705-1/F[protected] dated 22nd May 2009. Vide this said demand note you have raised demand of Rs. 531.80 on the undersigned Postpaid customer of Idea Cellular services (Number [protected]).

Appended is the response sent from Office Email ID to your demand letter;

In the said Demand letter it is mentioned that the services for the mobile number [protected] are stopped. I am happy to hear this but this could have done 4 months back when I had personally visited to your kiosk at Bhandup – Mumbai (the only service station near to my residence). I went there with the written request to deactivate my number because I was not getting proper network connectivity at my residence at Vikhroli. Your executive there refused to accept the written request and informed me to fill in the deactivation form. On her request I had asked for the deactivation form but I was told that the forms were out of stock. Then again after 02 working days I went to said kiosk but that time also the forms were not available. Hence I had requested your executive to at least accept the deactivation request letter duly signed by me but my request was again forfeited. When I procured the connection that time person from the same service center personally visited my residence to collect address proof with the SIM card but the same type of service was not given when I raised the request for deactivation.

After completion of billing period in the next month you had raised an invoice for the rental which I had not paid. On overdue of payment I got a call from your call center on the alternate number ([protected]) requesting to settle the outstanding. On this call I had informed the above incidence wherein I was not being given the deactivation form at your Kiosk. The call was ended with no satisfactory outcome.

Next month again one more invoice was furnished (that was for 02 months rentals alongwith interest on overdue payment) and I had not paid the same as well. On overdue again I got a call from your call center on my alternate number for settlement of outstanding dues. With the great patience I had re-explained the whole mistry and the call was ended with the confirmation that the incidence briefed by me would be communicated to the senior authorities. From that day I had neither received any phone call nor invoice.

In your demand letter it is mentioned that “on personal visit from your representative” I have not settled the claim which is not false because till time no one from Idea Cellular Services met me to recover so called unreasonable outstanding claim.

Yesterday i.e. 28th of May 2009, I had received the demand letter issued from your recovery department with the threat to take legal action against me if the dues are not settled within seven days. Please note I had requested your several executives to deactivate my services but nobody helped me to do so and hence I myself had stopped using your services the same can be checked from your system.

I am ready to pay one month rental & service tax thereon for the services which are not availed by me but not going to accept the forcefully levied incorrect charge of Rs.531.80. Here the mistake is not of mine but still I am ready to accept the charge for one month rental to kill this prolonged issue.

Even after my willingness to settle your unreasonable dues partially if I have been forced to make full payment then I have no option but to raise this issue with consumer forum and local authorities.

I will be happy to see a quick response on this which will help me to do the needful (either make the payment of one month rental with service tax or raise this issue with consumer forum).

Thanks & Regards

Bhalchandra Bhogate