Hi, I want to share in this forum my experience with Airtel Broadband Service demonstrating the utter unprofessionalism and impropriety on the part of Airtel.

1. I used to hold an Airtel broadband connection – Rental plan 899.

2. On 11/29/2010 I had raised a request with Airtel broadband customer care stating that I wish to discontinue with the broadband service as I had switched to another service provider starting December 2010.

3. I was told that this will be taken up by the concerned department and the billing will be truncated within 24 hours.

4. In the next one week, I had received multiple calls from their Chennai department, literally PERSUADING me to continue with the service stating that Airtel doesn’t want to lose out on a valued customer.
I was also offered the same scheme at a lower cost (mostly some 499 plan), to which I had clearCLEARLY REFUSED EACH time.

5. In the meanwhile, from Dec I had started using Beam Tele Connection and discontinued using the Airtel Wi-fi Broadband Connection.

6. In the second week of December, I received the bill and saw that I was charged for the entire billing cycle that includes the first week of December as well. Further on checking the phone connection I realized that it has still not been disconnected.

7. Immediately, I placed a call to the customer care to point this out and to my utter disbelief I was told that they had retained the service because I had apparently asked them to have my plan switched to 499.

8. I raised a complaint with their executive (complaint #: 524478) and told him that I’ll pay the bill only when it is revised and corrected. I was assured that I’ll be sent the revised bill.

9. Few days later I received a call from customer care insisting that I pay the entire bill and return them the device.
I reiterated that I will pay the outstanding amount only when I receive the revised bill and further there was no question of returning the Wi-Fi router because at the onset I had paid 1000 rupees (non-refundable) for it . However, they could come and collect the phone anytime they wanted to.

10. Post that, there was no follow-up from customer care and today suddenly I see this outstanding amount notice being served to me. I immediately called up the customer executive no. 4040023652 mentioned in the same notice and to my utter disappointment was connected to an executive who hardly wanted to hear out the entire issue. Also, I learnt that the billing is still on.

11. I’m shocked at the kind of unprofessional treatment meted out to a customer who has been associated with Airtel for years and have had an excellent history, not defaulting a single time. It is not a question of the nominal amount of Rs.915supposedly outstanding, but rather the harassment and defamation underwent indicating a clear lack of propriety on the part of Bharti Airtel.

12. I feel cheated by Bharti Airtel and hence have decided to give up my Airtel mobile connection as well. I have already spoken to Airtel Mobile Customer Care about this and I expect a follow-up within 24 hours.

In case anyone in this forum has had a similar experience, can you please suggest how I can see through?

Thanks
Debasree