TV channels fleecing the mobile users on the pretext of opinion poll

TV channels have of late been making lot of money with the weakness of mobile users. It may be any stupid programme, the TV channels ask for the opinion of viewers and ask them to SMS their opinion to a particular number. The catch is the SMS costs anywhere between Rs. 5 and Rs. 10.

In another instance, many TV channels offer visuals and ask the viewers to SMS the answers. They even offer prize money for the viewers. Here the TV channels make merry by lining their pockets with the SMS money shared by the service provider and the channels. Suppose, if the channel receives 100,000 SMSes, in effect it is pocketing money anywhere between Rs,. 700,000 and Rs. 100,000. Nobody knows the sharing system. But it is a fact, it would be a sizable amount.

To be precise, it is a crime under the provisions of Prize Chits & Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978. But so far there has not been a single complaint against it. Because nobody knows that it is a crime.

Beware of missed calls, Mobile Users all over India!

The other day I found a missed call on my new Samsung Galaxy Pop mobile. It has become a regular habit for me to call each and every missed call. Sometimes, people with so many problems give me a missed call and I immediately call back to find out who is calling and what is their problem.

When I called back on that missed call, I heard a mysterious voice and I could not make out the sounds. I put down the mobile.

Much to my consternation, when the bill arrived I found the service provider Idea Cellular Ltd charged me Rs. 100 for the call I made.

I enquired with the service provider and was told that it was an international call emanated from Austria. The person in the Idea Cellular Ltd office at Vijayawada asked me as to why did I make that call without checking the number.

In effect, he is blaming for the fraud pulled by the service provider. It is a common practice for all guilty to blame the victim first.

I coolly asked him why did he charge Rs. 100 for 18 seconds international call. I also wanted to know the pulse rate to all the countries and to which country the charge is Rs. 100 per minute. I also wanted to know who is going to share the Rs. 100 call charge.

The poor fellow immediately backed off and asked me to lodge the complaint in writing and promised to take up the matter with higher-ups. So far I have not received any information from them and the bill included Rs. 100 to be paid. However, I refused to pay the bill for Rs. 100.

This issue would be taken up in the next meeting of  Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) with the Consumer Advocacy Groups (CAGs) and we are going to take the service provider to the task.

Attention! Mobile users! Do not call back to each and every missed call and check the number before calling.

You may be the next victim of the unscrupulous of practice of service providers.

Attention Mobile Users all over India!

Welcome to Consumers' Guidance Society, a non-profit, non-political, civil society organisation in the service of consumers for the last 15 years, is now opening a grievance cell for redressal of grievances of cellular phone users all over India. They could contact us through this mobile whatever the problems they face while utilising their services of service providers. We take up the problems to the notice of service providers and see to it they are solved at an early date.

Many a time, mobile service providers take the consumers for a ride offering value-added services without their consent. The consumers are not even aware what happened to their money. Some service providers deduct the amount from the pre-paid services without even informing them.

For instance, Tata Docomo once sent through SMS some value-added service and if the consumer did not want the service they could send an SMS by stating unsubscribe. Many customers are not even aware that they have received such an SMS. The company deducted Rs. 10 from the pre-paid amount and the consumer is clueless as to what happened to his/her money.

If you have any such grievances kindly inform us quoting the name of service provider and your mobile number. We take up the issues with the service providers and get it redressed.

If necessary, the issue would be taken up with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and get the service provider pulled up.

We once again welcome you to Consumers' Guidance Society.