Bharti Airtel potentially the 8th largest telecom company in the world on Friday ended the era of Toll Free Customer Care – 121. They have messed up their back-end, atleast in Karnataka and have activated Unlimited SMS Pack without any request and I called to get the waiver for the same on the bill and was shocked to hear – You be charged to speak to the customer care executive. The charges are Rs 0.50 / 3 minute call. However, if you have a complaint, then you can call 198 which is still Toll Free. You can also use *121# to avail of the following free services
– For Outstanding
– For Unbilled
– Start a Service
– Stop a Service
– For Bill Summary
– For Payments
– For Service Request Status
– Hello Tunes
– Do Not Disturb
I’d call this a ridiculous move by Telecom Operators. Customer Care is one of the most important aspect of Wireless service and customers always prefer to directly speak to executives rather than obtain information from other means.
It makes me wonder how TRAI gave its consent for the day light loot of 558 mn Wireless Consumers ?
I am absolutely with you and suffered from the same sting from Airtel. Now Airtel customer care charges. It's probably they are going through the growth pain. How ever, you said TRAI… Do not you think Airtel has lots of hands out there at TRAI. Is it difficult for them to do thing? One thing you can observe that, all this happened in sleuth and no news on press about this. I agree Airtel service is good. That is why customers are with it. But when Airtel starts make funding its customer care from customer, its looks like "Nothing is free". People will leave this service provide in few days. They will just wait for very few mistakes from Airtel.
Airtel… Are you listening?