Complaint Details

Status	:	Closed
Complaint No	:	0089209/2017
Category	:	Telecom
Date	:	20-07-2017
Subject Line	:	Complaint regarding my recent Airtel bill no. 363940732 dated 09.07.2017 for the period from 08.06.2017 to 07.07.2017.
Complainant	:	Priyanka Dahiya
Address	:	Sheikh Sarai Phase-1
Complainee	:	Bharti Airtel
Address	:

Complaint Details
TO
THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS REDRESSAL COUNCIL

Dear Sir,

SUB: Complaint regarding my recent Airtel bill no. 363940732 dated 09.07.2017 for the period from 08.06.2017 to 07.07.2017.

I write this email in utter shock and disappointment due to the exaggerated bill received by me for an amount of Rs. 7,790 /- for my mobile number 9818543931

It is a fact that I being a designated lawyer for over 10 years have been practicing before the Hon’ble Delhi High Court and the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and I also have to travel abroad to the USA and Europe for international negotiations and arbitration. In a similar scenario, I had to travel to the US for important meetings from 12.06.2017 till 25.06.2017, therefore I sought to avail from Airtel the international roaming pack of Rs. 2,999 which is valid for a period of 10 days only.

The said pack of Rs. 2,999 was availed couple of days before my departure after a detailed discussion with your Customer Service Team, in the said discussion (which is always recorded), I had categorically inquired as to whether after the expiry of the of the validity period of 10 days of the said pack, ‘will there be an automatic renewal due to my continued usage’, the answer to which was given as ‘no’ and was also informed that an alert SMS or email will be sent across to me which unfortunately I never received any time during my period of travel or even till date. Secondly, I had categorically inquired that ‘if the abovesaid plan is exhausted on 22.06.2017, will I able to receive free incoming calls?’, to which I was informed that incoming calls will be free through the whole period of my travel even after the exhaustion of 10 days i.e. after 22.06.2017.

Now at this juncture when I received the bill, I sought to speak to the senior manager, customer care regarding postpaid bills, wherein after protest and enquiry I was informed that the 10 day plan was automatically renewed after 10 days i.e. on or after 22.06.2017 which absolutely wrong and untenable as no alert or permission through email was sought for by Airtel from me. Further after scrutiny of my itemized bill following discrepancies came to notice:

1. A three (3) second outgoing called was made on 22.06.2017 at 14.20 pm.
2. No data was used after 19.06.2017
3. Only incoming calls were made on 24.06.2017 (which I was categorically informed that even after exhaustion of the initial plan of 10 days, incoming calls will be free).

Therefore, I place this complaint before you that how and in what circumstances was the second plan triggered and at under what authority or permission and that too when no outgoing calls or data was used by me after 22.06.2017. At the least, Airtel should have sent an alert SMS or email that, your plan is near exhaustion and therefore either renew the said plan or close it. On the contrary you i.e. Airtel chose to charge double the plan amount (i.e. Rs. 7,790) for a 3 second call (call made on 22.06.2017 i.e, on the last day of the validity of the plan) and that too which was under the ambit of my initial plan.

This is a case of a technical blunder committed by the Airtel for which they are solely liable and I cannot be held responsible for the same. Therefore the said escalated bill is totally erroneous, illegitimate and against basic tenants of law. Further this is highly disappointing, wrong untenable and concocted on part of Airtel as you pose to be an “OPEN NETWORK” and under the said garb you cheat someone who has been your customer for 15 years! I demand that I may be sent a recording of my request (11.06.2017) to activate my initial plan before I left of US on 12.06.2017. I further demand that the present bill may be withdrawn and immediate action be taken against this whimsical bill no. 363940732 dated 09.07.2017 presented before me.

Awaiting your prompt response.

Regards,
Priyanka Dahiya

Advocate

Replies