When I shifted from Delhi to Jaipur, first thing I did was apply for Airtel Broadband connection! With amazing efficiency, they accepted my application on 1st Oct 2008, and installed the telephone on 3rd Oct 2008 as 2nd Oct was Holiday!

I was sweet talked by Airtel Executive that if I book the broadband connection on the same day, make payment of Rs.500 by check and opt for the unlimited package, I would be given a Wireless Wifi Router free! Though I had Wifi Router with me, being an Indian, I took the deal!

Problem started when they sent the first bill! The bill came around 20th Oct 2008 with last payment date of 28th Oct 2008. But sadly it included the additional extra Rs. 1500/- for the WiFi router!

Sequence of Events followed :

1. I called up Airtel Customer care! After frustrating customary talking to machine called IVRS, finally I got to speak to human customer care executive! As soon as I explained, he told me, there was no such offer! Stumped, I gave him details about the Airtel Executive name, number etc.! Now he got stumped! He put me on hold and came back after 2/3 minutes, recorded my number for 3rd time and promised he would get back.

2. After 2 days, no call from Airtel. I called up the original Airtel Marketing Executive, he promised he would get back, and he surely got back!

3. Sadly, last date of payment was nearing. I shot another email, informing as the due date is nearing end and my problem not near any conclusion, I will not make the payment as and my services not to be deactivated! They did not.

4. After due date expired, 28th Nov 08 itself, one collection agent from Airtel came demanding payment. I explained him and he went back!

5. Finally, the marketing executive called and informed the issue fixed! By the time, my next bill came along with late payment for the last non-payment bill!

6. Another email, argument on phone! Finally I got waiver for late payment, but bill with waiver of the WiFi router has not arrived and I started getting calls informing my services likely get disconnected if I dont pay up the bill!

7. I again called up Airtel Customer care, shot of email.

8. Finally, in Dec 2008, I made payment after deducting all late payment charges, extra Rs.1500/- and peace returned to my life!

Moral Of The Story: I had to argue, work hard, make calls to save myself from paying extra amount to Airtel which was unjustified. Had I not fought, they would have made few hundred more completely illegally!

Sadly, this may be happening to everyone and we may not notice as it is a small amount! But just imagine, Airtel has 10lacs subscriber, they make this kind of mistake, over charging to all these subscribers, and only 10% of them like me, “nutcase”, fight with Airetl Customer care department, talk to Machines (IVR Ssystem), get justice! And Airtel gets payment from 90% that is 900,000 multiplied by Rs. 15000/- equal to Rs. 135,00,00,000/- that is Rs. 135 crores! Ring a bell ?

Contact Me for the complete Email Communication with Airtel. ( I made them private.)

Related posts:

1. Online Payment for Mobile Bill in Airtel
2. Late arrival of bill and late payment charge
3. Airtel GPRS Service