Consumer Blog » india

Next big move : SLA for government services

Pegu — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:51:18 +0000

What could be the next big move by ruling UPA(United Progressive Alliance) government at the center after RTI ( Right To Information) act, PMO has announced that service level agreement would be implemented for select government services for providing selected government services. Central government is targeting Delhi, Union territories to start this by April 2010. Delhi is likely implement this from April 2010.

This could be a much needed push towards speedy government process as well as reduce corruption. It may be mentioned that, failure to implement SLA would result in penalising the concerned government officers per day. Here are the list of service which will come under SLA ( Service Level Agreement):-

1. Issuing of ration cards
2. Issuing and renewal of driving licences
3. Registration of voters
4. Issuing of voter identity cards
5. Registration of births
6. Registration of deaths
7. Registration under Department of Value Added Tax
8. Issuing of SC certificate
9. Issuing of OBC certificates

PMO also wants state governments to come forward themselves to implement SLA on their own as many services are under state governments.

Most probably, this will help common people greatly and help India achieve its goal of being a truly welfare state.

Kingfisher Red and non reclining seats

Pegu — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:41:42 +0000

When you pay around Rs. 6000/- for a 2 hour flight, can you call it a low cost carrier ? And then when you have t sit upright at 90 degrees for two hours to boot, how do you feel about famed India civil aviation boom ?

I had to come to Bhubaneswar today by Kingfisher Red from Delhi. As I had some work during day, I called our office to book me on evening flight and they dutifully booked me on 6:15PM evening Kingfisher Red flight IT3345. Since I was carrying only hand baggage, I did a KIOSK check in and one Kingfisher guy promptly stamped on the boarding pass after checking my photo identity.

The flight was full and it took off late by only 15 minutes. It was a good achievement at that time, Delhi airport is normally very congested. I always try to get an aisle seat, left side third from the last, either 28C, 26C depending upon the number of rows in the aircraft ( Some one told me that survival of crash increases if one sits at rare seats, I do not the logic though). Today I chose 28D as 28C was not available.

As soon as I sat down on 28D, I found a small sticker in front me saying NON RECLINING SEAT. I got horrified! Wow, 2 hours flight, and then sit straight!

Kingfisher Red Non Reclining Seat

I asked one flight attendant, Are all seats non reclining or mine is special ? She politely replied that, all seats are non reclining!

I was amazed! How can India’s only five star can fly a 2 hour flight with non reclining seats ? They claim that Kingfisher Red ( formerly Air Deccan) is a low cost airlines so they may have non reclining seat to carry more passengers!

But, there are few questions :
1. When you charge rs. 6000 for a 2 hour flight, you can not be called a low cost carrier.
2. By making seats non reclining, you increase number of passengers, but I hope you are keeping the load capacity of the aircraft too!
3. Air Deccan having no reclining seats may be pardonable, but Kingfisher lead by flamboyant Dr. Vijay Mallya, giving non reclining seat, that too for a 2 hour flight ? No sir, that is not expected and acceptable.

Finally, I would advise, if you like comfort, or ‘five star air travel’, do not fly Kingfisher red. Also, Kingfisher should avoid the misleading advertisement or claim about India’s only five star airlines tag line and put a statutory warning ( like in cigarette packet) Not for Kingfisher Red, but Kingfisher Class.

UPDATE: I have written an email to Chairman, Kingfisher Red. I will wait and update if I get any response from him. – 22 Nov 2009

UPDATE : My mail to Chairman, Kingfisher has bounced back. I used the email id found on the magazine in Kingfisher Red cabin! What a pity! The chairman address asks guests to send feedback and the email id it self does not work! Does it speak volume about Kingfisher care ? 25 Nov 2009

UPDATE : I think I should take back above UPDATE! Today, I have received reply from Chairman of Kingfisher Red. I am humbled now and feeling happy that Kinfisher rocks! As they really care for their flier. Thank you chairman of Kingfisher Red! 27 Nov 2009

3G dream may finally be true in Inda from next year

myvoice — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 08:18:32 +0000

Recently, DOT has decided to hold much awaited 3G spectrum auction on 7 Dec 2009 as per recent news. Presently only BSNL offers 3G services in India and it has not been able to create big splash as it it was thought to be.

But it can be expected that once private GSM operators enter into 3G area, the video call, high speed internet on Mobile Phone would be a reality may change mobile telephony as well as VAS industry all together.

Here is the news :-

NEW DELHI: The government will hold the much-awaited 3G spectrum auction for GSM operators on December 7 and invite bids from October 26 to November 13.
It will hold the auction for EVDO (CDMA version of 3G) and Broadband Wireless Access after two days of the 3G auction. Source.

Petrol and Diesel prices to increase soon!

myvoice — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:48:10 +0000

Petrol and diesel prices is set to increase by Rs. 2 and Rs. 1 unless excise duty is lowered on them as per recent news! With inflation on negative side, most probably, government is trying to increase inflation by increasing petrol and diesel prices!
The basket of crude oil India imports has averaged $70.49 per barrel in the second fortnight of June against the May average of $58, sending alarm bells ringing, a petroleum ministry official said.
“We have to act to save our PSU,” he said. “The burden (of rising global oil prices) has to be shared equally between the companies, the government and consumers.”

Here is the complete news :
NEW DELHI: Government may increase petrol price by Rs 2 a litre and diesel by Re 1 per litre unless excise duty on the two fuels is cut to neutralise the impact of firming international oil rates.

State fuel retailers Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum lost Rs 135 crore per day on sale of petrol, diesel, LPG and kerosene and their annual revenue loss for current fiscal is estimated to be at Rs 38,700 crore. Source.

Petrol Price will be decided by Oil companies, not Government

SBI will reduce deposit rate by 0.25 percent

myvoice — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:11:54 +0000

SBI, the largest bank in India is all set to cut deposit rate by 0.25%, as per recent news. This deposit rate cut will be effective from 15th June 2009 on all tenure of deposits. For a tenure of 181 days to less than one year, the rate has been reduced from 6.50 per cent to 6.25 per cent while for one-year to less than 2-years, it has been cut from 7.25 per cent to 7 per cent, the bank, said in a statement.

For two-years to less than 1,000 days, the new rate is 7.25 per cent against 7.50 per cent while for a 1,000-day tenure, the rate has been reduced from 7.75 per cent to 7.50 per cent. For 1,001 days to less than 3 years, the new rate is 7.25 per cent from the earlier 7.50 per cent.

Here is the news:

MUMBAI: The country’s largest lender, State Bank of India, today said it has reduced deposit rates across all maturities by 0.25 per cent, with effect from June 15. For two-years to less than 1,000 days, the new rate is 7.25 per cent against 7.50 per cent while for a 1,000-day tenure, the rate has been reduced from 7.75 per cent to 7.50 per cent. For 1,001 days to less than 3 years, the new rate is 7.25 per cent from the earlier 7.50 per cent. Source and complete Story.

Mobile and cable operators are looting people : says SC

myvoice — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:31:50 +0000

This is the line I have been implying in my blog for long! Thank you very much Supreme Court of India!

I have posted before in my articles ( Did You Know and Late arrival of bill and late payment charge), I was always maintaining the Supreme Courts line that, Mobile Companies at least might be looting people and how they can loot!

The excerpts of the news here :

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday voiced what consumers may have felt for years, saying “mobile and cable operators are looting people”.
Clearly, the agony to consumers subjected to inflated bills from mobile service providers and local cable operators has not escaped the notice of the apex court, particularly that of Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan. Source and Complete news here.

Delay in Courier Delivery And Users

myvoice — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 13:24:39 +0000

Recently I sent a courier from Bhubaneswar to Guwahati on 4th April 2009 and it reached Guwahati on 11th April 2009. It took one week to to reach from Bhubaneswar to Guwahati. Most probably, Indian Postal Department would have been much faster and would have cost me much less.

During that period I realised, there is no guideline for Courier Companies. Though while searching Yahoo and Google, I found few news about proposals for setting up guidelines for Courier Companies! But I did not find any in any GOI websites. I will check for more!

Now coming back to the above courier, I sent an email to First Flight head office, address ffcl@firstflight.net, giving details of my courier and also an copypaste of reason for delay as per their website on 10th April 2009. I did not get any reply. Here is the screenshot of the reason for delay : They simply “origin misroute”! How callous! Sadly, we do not have any official guidelines or any way to complaint about this kind of avoidable delay or Quality of Service!

It is a pity that we pay higher price and then we get poor service and then no way to lodge any complaint! I will search for more information about guidelines about courier companies and update this post. Meanwhile readers are welcome to comment how to lodge complaint against Courier Companies for this kind of avoidable delay and poor quality of service.

Telcos may be penalised for poor service quality

Confusing Customer Care Numbers of Mobile Operators in India

myvoice — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 08:36:53 +0000

Related posts:Responsibilities of Mobile and Internet Subscriber Be careful with VAS charges of mobile operators Mobile and cable operators are looting people : says SC Related posts:

Aircel to Offer Call rates at 40 paise a minute!

myvoice — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:12:53 +0000

More good news to Mobile Subscriber and it is not a election sop by Government!

Aircel launches a new lifetime freepaid scheme which has a outgoing call rate at 40 paise minute, with of course terms and conditions. This might start a fresh price war between Telecom Opertaors and I hope it will benefit Mobile Subscribers!

Here is the news :

NEW DELHI: Mobile operator Aircel on Wednesday launched a lifetime validity scheme for prepaid mobile customers that is expected to set off a new tariff war, as the plan boasts of call rates as low as 40 paise a minute. Source

Responsibilities of Mobile and Internet Subscriber

myvoice — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 07:11:09 +0000

Though it is easy to expect best services from Mobile Service provider and the best tariff plans asw ell as schemes, subscribers should have few responsibilities too. After all wireless spectrum is a finite natural resources and it is good to share it with all of us in a mutually benefecial way. Here is list of my own subscriber responsibilities:-

1. Pay bills on or before time. This will not only help the mobile operator with their cash flow, it will also help your mobile connection uninterrupted.

2. Use Automatic Bill payment like online payment, ECS ( Electrinic Clearing System by banks) easier for you as well as Mobile Service operators.

3. Spend few times and respond to various surveys/polls conducted by mobile operators about their services.

4. Spend few times in reading the bills sent by service providers. Notify Customer Care imemdiately if any confusion. Prefer to communicate by email as it will record your communication and will help in future for any dispute.

5. Do not make spam calls.

6. Report to customer care promtly if you receive any overseas calls from local number.

7. Read carefully about terms of conditions of any value added services. Many people ignore these terms and conditions and later argue with Custome Care Executives.

8. Learn and use IVRS of the call center. Customer Care executives are finite in number.

Any internet and mobile infrastructure is national property.

I will try to follow these myself.