“I wish u HAPPY NEW YEAR IN ADVANCE.
Bcz, Worlds biggest be***** Airtel, Vodafone, Aircel, Idea Tata, RCOM, BSNL r waiting 2 charge 1 Rupee/ SMS on Dec 31 and Jan 1”. This was one astonishing message I received from a friend on December 30.
A few minutes earlier, I had a message from my service provider which said: To ensure a congestion-free experience, the SMS charge on Dec 31 and Jan 1 is Local - Re 1, Nation - Rs 1.5, International - Rs 5. No free discounted SMS applicable.
What made me to write this piece is that the same service provider/s till yesterday were offering SMS and call tariffs at rock bottom to build their subscriber base. The competition among the service providers in India has been such that many of them have bled too much.
Well the congestion problems on our service providers network has been cropping up year after year and there seems to be no relief from the problem even in 2011 too.
While most of the service providers charge a monthly fees for all the concessional rates, there is no justification for such a steep hike in the name of offering a congestion-free network. I think it is a case worth fighting in the consumer court.
Well, the service providers know that New Year is one occasion when people would not hesitate to contact their dear ones at any cost - be it 20 paise or Re 1. It's good to make hay while the sun shines, but why should they burn our little huts?
89f09a73-e9e1-4bce-ae88-e23b3f9a95e9|0|.0