So, now that my posts have turned into Email cribs :), here is continuing the series - what to do, my little Blog is the only expression mode left for individual consumers like me taking on beeg corporates. So, this is apropos my last post which can be read here. To summarize:
1) I had been an Airtel Internet + Landline user for ~5 years before I moved to a new house last November. My billing cycle used to run from 23rd of every month and I moved on 21st Nov to my new house. I filed a "connection movement" request on 21st Nov which was supposed to happen in 7 days. After waiting duly, I filed a disconnection request on 28th Nov - subsequently the Nov bill had been generated and I paid it promptly.
2) I get repeat Airtel calls over December and January as to "Why I want to disconnect" but they simply did not disconnect my connection and kept generating Bills for Dec and Jan, charging me for non-usage :). Funnily, every customer rep I spoke to, said "Yes, this is wrong and will be corrected".
3) Finally the calls stopped in February and I had my mental peace back. This actually had such traumatic effect on me that I did not let my wife install a landline in our new house :) and for Internet we went for a local agency Triple Play which is a MVNO for BSNL, so that when and if we require to disconnect, it is easily done.
4) Today, on May 11, I get a new notice from cureman@in.airtel.com reproduced below:
Date 9-May-12
Date 9-May-12
To,
Mr. Ranjan Kant
Address - D-103, Maple Heights Sushant Lok-1 122002 Gurgaon
Del No 01244360947
Account id - 14309089
Dear Sir / Madam
Sub: Outstanding Dues on your Airtel Telemedia.
Ref: Del No: 01244360947 Account No: 14309089
We have not received a response to our Previous Tele-calls/Field visit & Letters
Regarding non–payment of bills towards the above said account for a net outstanding of Rs. 1470.32.
We must now tell you that we expect payment to be made immediately. If payment has not been received immediately we will pass the matter to our solicitors with instructions to commence legal proceedings. This will be done without further warning to you.
P
lease make the payment in favour of M/s.Bharti Airtel Limited -Telemedia Services A/c: 14309089by cheque/DD payable at Delhi NCR or by cash/credit card. If you have already made the outstanding payments prior to receiving this letter you are requested to furnish us the proof of payment to avoid further action.
If you have any queries please do get in touch with our representative Sunita Mobile Number -9650397854
For any further clarification please contact the Airtel Office
Thanking You
For Bharti Airtel Ltd.
Authorised Signatory
This is Computer generated Letter and does not require any signature
So, as mentioned in the email above, I called up Sunita, whose only refrain was 1. "Paisa toh aap ko dena padega" and 2. "Poora mat dijiye, compromise ker ke case close keriye" - she had no clue of what my case was, her only concern was to get the money. Then I figured out this is surely a "Recovery agency" and I did a small google search and see for yourself what it turned out for this band of Hooligans called Cureman - and you would think why would such a big, "renowned" corporate like Airtel hire them, but at some level I am not surprised.
Anyways, after the highly "decent" phone call with Sunita, I replied to Airtel as follows:
Thanks for your
prompt reply.
I have never in my life not paid any bill in my name if it is billed correctly, but in this case I have been billed wrongly which will become apparent once you take time to understand my case. I had called up "Sunita" as mentioned in the doc but instead of listening to my case, all she did was shout "Dena toh padega".
So, I am also clear - I will not pay. I have not used an iota of the services I have been billed for and hence I will not pay. Just because you are a recovery agency supported by a Big corporate with a battery of solicitors doesn't mean you can bully me into wrongly billed payments. Please go ahead and do as many legal proceedings you want.
Meanwhile, I will take to Social Media and ensure this injustice and pain is highlighted and becomes well known to the World.
Many thanks for the document, it actually helps me showcase my case easily.
@BB 9790 +91 9873637900
So, now lets wait and see when these dudes choose to sue me :), will keep you posted. And you know the funny bit - I had actually applied to port my mobile no. from Vodafone to Airtel (somehow Voda signal in my house is not that great), but as you can surmise, I very quickly rolled back my porting request - atleast I haven't seen Vodafone using such dastardly tactics, I really hope they don't :), else I will have to shift to BSNL on principle :) !!
Ah, Life and all that. Till I write next !
Adios,
Ranjan
P.S. I would just appeal to three people:
1) SRK and Kareena: Guys, you should seriously think if you want to be associated with a brand which uses these tactics with honest customers.
2) Aamir Khan: Airtel is an official sponsor of "Satyamev Jayate" - does it deserve that ?
Anyways, after the highly "decent" phone call with Sunita, I replied to Airtel as follows:
From: Kant Ranjan
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2012 6:27 PM
To: 'Cureman@in.airtel.com'
Subject: Re: RE: Regarding Your Airtel No.01244360947Act no.14309089Ot.1470.33Pr
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2012 6:27 PM
To: 'Cureman@in.airtel.com'
Subject: Re: RE: Regarding Your Airtel No.01244360947Act no.14309089Ot.1470.33Pr
I have never in my life not paid any bill in my name if it is billed correctly, but in this case I have been billed wrongly which will become apparent once you take time to understand my case. I had called up "Sunita" as mentioned in the doc but instead of listening to my case, all she did was shout "Dena toh padega".
So, I am also clear - I will not pay. I have not used an iota of the services I have been billed for and hence I will not pay. Just because you are a recovery agency supported by a Big corporate with a battery of solicitors doesn't mean you can bully me into wrongly billed payments. Please go ahead and do as many legal proceedings you want.
Meanwhile, I will take to Social Media and ensure this injustice and pain is highlighted and becomes well known to the World.
Many thanks for the document, it actually helps me showcase my case easily.
@BB 9790 +91 9873637900
So, now lets wait and see when these dudes choose to sue me :), will keep you posted. And you know the funny bit - I had actually applied to port my mobile no. from Vodafone to Airtel (somehow Voda signal in my house is not that great), but as you can surmise, I very quickly rolled back my porting request - atleast I haven't seen Vodafone using such dastardly tactics, I really hope they don't :), else I will have to shift to BSNL on principle :) !!
Ah, Life and all that. Till I write next !
Adios,
Ranjan
P.S. I would just appeal to three people:
1) SRK and Kareena: Guys, you should seriously think if you want to be associated with a brand which uses these tactics with honest customers.
2) Aamir Khan: Airtel is an official sponsor of "Satyamev Jayate" - does it deserve that ?
Have them send you the settlement offer IN WRITING. Open a new checking account at your bank. Put only the amount of money in the account that you need to make the payment each month and pay out of that account
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