I recently discovered that Airtel has been charging me Rs.50/- every month as Clip charges. It turns out that TRAI had made this a free service back in 2007.
http://www.trai.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/file/measuresto%20protectconsumerinterest/02.pdf
http://www.ciol.com/ciol/news/103382/trai-notice-clip-mobile-operators
Having raised this with Aritel Customer Support (121), after much goading, they checked and reverted saying that the service became free for post-paid customers around mid-2012 and offered me a 20 month refund (Rs.1000/-). I asked them to proceed to process the refund but then found out that the TRAI directive from 2007 and also found similar complaints from other Airtel users all over the web.
Clip Charges being charged by Airtel – though Government of India
http://www.consumercourt.in/mobile-billing-problem/118965-airtel-postpaid-issue-clip-charges-@50-has-been-levied-illegally-mob-9741099111-since-sep-2008-a.html
My connection is 6 years old and since it was activated in 2008, I am eligible for a full ~72 month refund (and not just 20 months offered by Airtel). I have reported this through 121 again but am looking for a satisfactory response and resolution to this issue and only a full refund will do that.
As shown, millions of subscribers must be battling this and are probably even unaware of this illegal charge so its an issue of significant monetary proportions. I intend to take this up with higher authorities if the issue is not resolved per expectations.
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