[Resolved]  Tata Photon Plus — Harassment to pay incorrect bill amount

Address:

Bangalore, Karnataka

Hi,

I have had a similar experience with Tata Photon at Bangalore. I got a Photon Plus card along with my laptop as part of an offer which stated 15 GB downloads for Rs 700 for the first month only and then as per the existing plans. That was back in August 2010. I had not even used the device for one month when it stopped connecting to internet, and when I called up Tata Photon customer service, was told that my account has been disabled since my monthly bill credit limit exceed Rs 5000. I was shocked to hear that since my data usage had not reached the 15 GB limit and yet these people were telling me that my unbilled amount had already crossed Rs 5000. After multiple calls to customer support, my connection was restored saying that it was an internal billing problem and that my usage was still valid and not extra amount other than any usual monthly bill amount needs to be paid.

So, I continued to use again and but still did not cross the 15 GB download limit within this 30 days of taking the connection. Again to my surprise I was charged extra amount in my bill even though I had never exceeded the 15 GB download limit in the first 30 days. I must have called up the customer service at least 5 to 6 times before they clarified that the connection was taken in middle of the month and my billing cycle started from 1st of the month, and that the usage of 15 GB was prorated only for the remaining days of the month. This was completely unexpected to me since it was not mentioned anywhere, I was misled into believing that 15 GB download limit was applicable. I felt being cheated so I decided to discontinue using the service and told the same to customer service as well and to revert the wrongly charged amount from my bill.

Well I was wrong to think this was the end of it when it was just the start of all the troubles and harassment, but then I started getting bills and multiple calls from customer service and recovery agents to pay the bill. I tried to tell them about the problem that I faced and that legally I did not owe anything to Tata Photon but never helped.

Now, all this was more than 2 years back and now suddenly today morning (on 5th October 2012) I get a call from Delhi court saying that I have been served legal notice for cheating and fine is Rs 25000 and that need to appear in Delhi court tomorrow (on 6th October 2012). Again I was shocked and asked him what the case was regarding and he says that he does not know the details just gave me the Case number - NW202 and an advocate's number who has filed it.

After calling up the advocate, got to know that a case has been filed against me by Tata Indicom regarding the bill that I did not pay 2 years back and that summons have been sent to my address, but I did not receive any of them. I have been told to settle the bill amount of Rs 1000 within the next 2 hours if I want the case be withdrawn.

Thinking I may not be the only one facing this situation, did some research and found that there are lot many other Tata Indicom customers who have been harassed similarly. Some of them mentioned that even after paying the dues (which is itself incorrect), they have got calls from Delhi court again after two months.

Can somebody advice me on how to proceed from here? Should I contact Tata Indicom appellate authority or should also file a case with Consumer court?

Thanks for your help and advice.

Krishna Prasad
Tata Indicom customer id: 90789220
Contact No.: [protected]
Email: [protected]@gmail.com