Dear Sir, My airtel mobile number is 9004468288. Customer service is the worst service ever received. I did not realise that for changing a regular SIM to micro SIM can take four trips to Airtel centre over the last 3 days (with my 1.5 year baby girl in arms) and it is yet not done. It’s also a scam as Micro SIM pack doesn’t have a maximum retail price mentioned on it which according to the Consumer Goods (Mandatory Printing of Cost of Production and Maximum Retail Price) Act 2006 of Indian law is mandatory. I file this complaint to Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India on this matter. This is despite being a customer of Airtel Postpaid for last 2 years and 8 months. Full episode is described below: • On 31st Dec 2013 – I checked twice with Airtel customer care helpline (121) regarding micro SIM card issuance and availability of the nearest customer service center to Goregaon (East) where I live. According to them, the nearest service centre (owned and operated by Airtel) was in Goregaon west and they also confirmed that the customer service centre in Goregoan West will be working on Jan 1st 2014 and will provide me a micro SIM card. • On 1st January 2014 – I went to Goregaon west Airtel center but was told that their IT systems were not working so they won’t be able to issue the micro SIM. They suggested a service center (franchise) of Airtel in Goregaon east so that I can avoid traveling for 30 minutes from Goregaon East. They also informed that the cost of microSIM will be Rs 25/-. • On 2nd January 2014 – I went to Airtel Goregaon East Center (franchise) near to station. After doing all the formalities they asked for Rs. 250 for micro SIM instead of Rs. 25 and were not ready to give a bill. When I refused to pay Rs 250/- and checked with Goregaon West service center, they said the amount being asked was inappropriate and I should not be paying. Came to know that Goregaon East was a franchise and not a real store and almost felt like looted for my hard earned money and Airtel failing to ensure any fair price standards. Went back to Airtel Goregoan West Centre and the systems were still not working on Jan 2nd. Which systems Airtel uses? I wonder if a telecom company like airtel can not keep its systems up, how will it keep systems of other companies using Airtel network running. • On 3rd January 2014 – went to Airtel Goregaon West center again and came to know that systems were still not working. After repeated request to take a complaint, the manager came out and said they do not have micro SIM for postpaid connections in their stock. What a joke? They asked me to visit the M.G. Road Goregaon West Center (Franchisee) for micro SIM and I handed all my documents to Airtel Goregaon West center. When I went to the M.G.Road shop and after giving detail of my Airtel number, brought a micro SIM•card after paying Rs 50 (instead of Rs 25 which is the rate) and messaged my SIM number for activation to
) Airtel officials should be reprimanded 2) I should be given a reimbursement of my losses 3) Airtel Franchises should be booked under Consumer Goods (Mandatory Printing of Cost of Production and Maximum Retail Price) Act 2006
Complainant Information
name- ankitajain