Consumer Blog

Do you receive your phone bills late ? Some times I get my mobile phones late, not always, but some time. This month I got my airtel bill late, on 22 Mar 2009 while the last date of payment is 24 Mar 2009. I did not make complaint this time to Airtel.

But it occured me, why should phone companies or any utility companies for that matter should send bills late while they levy late payment fees from subscribers when they pay late ? I am not saying it is happening, but this can happen! Just like the technical error in my previous post Did You Know, utility companies ( Mobile Phone, Credit Card etc etc) may send your bills late so that you miss the last payment !

Suppose they charge Rs. 75/- late charge! Small amount for you! Also you think yes, you are paying late, so be a good Samaritan and pay late payment charge! Suppose in a month, a mobile company or credit card company with 1 crore subscribers send out bills late around 50%. That is 50 lacs susbcribers. Now out oft his subscribers 50% pays up quickly as soon as they get the bill just before due date. That remains 25lacs! Now out of these 25 lacs people, 50% complaints and get the late payment charge waived, remaining 13.5lacs subscribers pay late payment fees of Rs. 75/- each!

That makes : 75 X 1350000 = Rs. 10,12,50,000/- ! yes, that is Rs. 10 crore! I think, since this is late payment, they don’t pay service tax too to the government! I am not sure about this though!

So the bottom line is :

When you get your bills late, just few days before your due date, do not forget to complaint and get the late payment waived off! Spend few time, make a phone call, send email and get the late payment charge waived when you get the bill late.