Submitted by: jyotirmoy paul
Complaint Details:
I use an airtel prepaid sim for last few years. I am getting SMSes from airtel regularly (in last few months) which state that as I have a 4G handset, I can upgrade my sim to 4G & use 1GB free 4G data for 28 days. Few months back I got a call from airtel & the executive offered the same (i.e. free 4G sim) but I refused as I thought the service in my area was not up to the mark.
On 28-Nov-2016, I got a call from airtel again & the executive told me that I would get a 4G sim & 1GB data for free without changing my number at my residence. That happened on 30-Nov-2016 but I was in office then. So the executive who delivered it told me to call him once I get back to home so he can activate that sim. I got back & found the sim which was received by my mother. Then I called the executive & followed his instructions & he activated the sim. When I replaced the old sim with the new one (according to his instructions), I was able to check my balance which was Rs 166. he also told me that I will get 1 GB free 4G data. I changed the settings to access mobile data to the new sim (it is in 2nd sim slot). Then i started using it to access internet. In the afternoon on 01-Dec-2016 I got a message that my balance is deducted for mobile data usage. Then I checked my balance and found that it had come down to Rs 26 (approx.). I realised that they had deducted my balance for data usage though actually offering 1GB 4G data for free. I called the executive who delivered & activated the sim to tell these things. He was surprised & advised me to call customer care to get the matter sorted out & get the balance back.
I called 198 (Complaints only no.) @00:20 am today & told everything in detail to the customer care executive but he told me that the reason is I have no data pack activated & I have to recharge to activate the same. then I stressed that I am getting the SMSes regularly stating the free 4G offer & I have accepted the new sim as the executive told the same. Then the customer care executive tried to confuse me by saying that it is some handset bundled offer. But I clearly told him that it was never mentioned (in SMS or by the executive who offered it). Then i clearly told him that they have cheated me & asked him if it was my fault that the free data was not activated. He told me to stay on line as he was transferring the call to his senior. then some recorded message about the airtel app started playing repetitively & the call got disconnected after some time. Please do the needful to resolve this issue ASAP so that I get the balance back & the free data is activated.
I think they are fooling the customers in this way regularly so please address this complaint. Thanks.