Category: airtel

Mobile phones

admin

Most banks and financial institutions want people to use mobile phones for transactions , but mobile phones are extremely unreliable and can be easily hacked.

In the last few months at least  2 Nokia phones including a new Nokia C6  have become dead after receiving a phone call.  The Android based Dell XCD 28 is even more unreliable, automatically making calls costing Rs 0.30 on its own.

Dell XCD 28 making calls on its own

I am facing this problem mainly with the one mobile number that is published publicly and it appears that many others are facing the problem.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ai9eR45rbGEGAnS272CW0MUjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20060916172931AAdoApN

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmDrNPxtEJlU5A3bFLaUj.8jzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20091025175138AAmx5lh

Prepaid Airtel Blackberry internet plan

admin

Though it is listed on their website, I am unable to activate Airtel Prepaid Blackberry Internet services.  I have provided the following details as requested by Airtel Blackberry customer support at Bb.Support@airtel.in
1- Customer Name
2- Blackberry Mobile Number
3- Alt. Number
4- Blackberry Model Number
5- PIN Number
6- IMEI Number
7- Circle
8- Plan for activation
9- Error while activating the services,
but still get the error message,
We are unable to process your request. If you are a new Prepaid customer please try again after 24 hours. Postpaid customers can call 121 for activation.
Have been trying for one week now,still unable to activate.

Wireless Internet connection

admin

I have been searching for a reliable wireless internet connection for some time , which allows some amount of  flexibility while using it.   My requirements are simple , it should be a prepaid USB connection and should work in  Mumbai and Goa.  Since I do not view videos or download movies,  the connection should have the speed of a dialup connection at the minimum.

I have evaluated the various internet connections available and listed their features and problems:

  • Airtel USB Modem :  Costs  Rs 2999, can be purchased through Indiatimes,  tariff  starts from 20 paise / 50 KB download (or Rs 4 / MB download) ,  Rs 349 for 500 MB free data usage,  1 month validity. However, there is no information on  how you are going to charge /load the amount for the prepaid usage. Seller B.T. Agencies has no feedback on Indiatimes
  • Idea Netsetter : Costs Rs 2490 ,  Minimum prepaid  amount is  Rs 150,  Access charges are  Rs 1.7 / MB  ( from http://www.ideacellular.com/IDEA.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=IDEA_Page_Advertisements&displayParam=NetSetterPostpaid/NetSetterUSBModem_DELHI.html) . However some users have found the speed of an Idea connection slow.
  • Vlink USB modem :  Starter kit is the cheapest at Rs 99 ( but should be used with a mobile phone) ,  data charges  60 paise / minute.   However, the terms for their Rs 349 and Rs 801 recharge at their website are confusing and this connection does not offer the coverage I want.
    http://www.virginmobile.in/plan_special_offers_vlink-usb.html

Reliance Netconnect seems to be a data card. I will also check forums and list the feedback from users , so that this review is comprehensive.

Airtel 290603 debit

admin

Like a movie sequel , my Airtel  prepaid balance is  again being debited for  Rs 3  for Thought for the day service to which I have never subscribed.

In June I was facing this Airtel prepaid problem and after repeated follow up, I managed to get a refund.  Now in the space of  30 minutes my account has been debited for Rs 12 for a VAS service to which I never subscribed.  It seems that millions of Airtel subscribers are facing this problem,  if no immediate action is taken, it is better to go to the consumer court. They refunded the Rs 12  initially and  I switched off the mobile.

But now my account has been debited for Rs 45 since then and I continue to receive the unsolicited SMS messages from 290603. It seems all Airtel subscribers are facing this problem.  I have been trying to find out if there is a mobile phone virus which could be causing this problem,  but it appears unlikely since I only have a basic mobile phone model.  I have written to customer support and will publish the correspondence here soon.

Sending an email to the nodal officer is also not of much use. Now I am getting an error message

Your message

Subject: Mobile no **** – Incorrect billing

was not delivered to:

Nodalofficer.Mumbai@airtel.in

because:

Error delivering to Nodalofficer Mumbai/SERVICE EXCELLENCE/Mum/Airtel/BTVL; Router: Database disk quota exceeded

One would have thought that India’s  largest mobile service provider could afford more hard disk space on their servers.  Before buying foreign companies like MTN,  why don’t they put their  VAS  and billing systems in order? I have wasted so much time trying to get a refund and there are so many customers who are facing a similar problem.

Update : After repeated follow up  and sending emails to 121@airtelindia.com , I got 3 refunds of  Rs 12, Rs 45 and Rs 3 each .  I hope Airtel is able to fix this problem permanently.