Voice against illicit deduction of balance by telecom companies on account of Value added service or other benefits.

Indian telecom operators have started unethical and dishonest mean to deduct money from their customer’s cellphone balance on account of any value added service (VAS) or other benefits. These VAS or benefits are never subscribed by the customers and even most of them didn’t want to subscribe ever. If the customer is aware then registration of complain may return the balance. But for lodging a complain customer has to spend around 25 minutes on average over the call to customer care; and not every call get success.
And if the customer is unaware or illiterate then the money from his balance is lost for ever.

At present there are more than 929.37 million cell phone users in India and this statistic is increasing at the rate of 8.35 million per month. Of this 33% of users belong to rural India. 

If we just calculate illicit amount earned by telecom operators for VAS which is not subscribed then we get a minimum figure of about Rs. 100 million (Calculated as: Taking the least of only 10% of customer of whose balance had been deducted for just Re.1). The interest they earn (on Rs.15 to Rs.30 they deduct) even for one day if added will further increase the figure of Rs.100 Million.

As such no regulation had been issued by telecom regulator or government to prevent this kind of illicit and unethical practices. Users of telecom services are increasing exponentially and if these kinds of practices are not prevented then every customer will be cheated.

With  your support over this petition the matter will be forwarded to TRAI and Indian Government to take necessary action to curb this unethical practices. It is kind request to you to sign the petition.

Thanks.