The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : ‘Idea’ fined for service deficiency

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Sunday, Oct 12, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

‘Idea’ fined for service deficiency

KVB Reddy

‘The company should convey to the subscriber that he may not receive calls in no-network areas’

HYDERABAD: Negligence in delivery of service cost a mobile service operator dearly. A case filed in the consumer court by a customer of Idea Cellular Ltd. forced the company to cough up Rs.25, 000 as compensation besides court expenses of Rs.1, 000.

S. Srikanth, an advocate by profession and a resident of RTC crossroads, was a subscriber of Idea Cellular Ltd. When he planned a trip to Ooty in April 2006, he requested for mobile-roaming facility and was assured of the same by the company.

However, after crossing the State borders, he found that roaming service was not activated and due to this, he could not receive important calls from his clients throughout the trip.

He first served a legal notice to the company and upon lack of response, filed a case in Hyderabad District Consumer Forum-III seeking compensation of Rs. 1 lakh for the losses he incurred. When the company failed to respond even to the court notice, the forum ordered in favour of the plaintiff, based on the evidences on record.

Aggrieved by the decision, the company preferred to challenge the case in State Consumers’ Disputes Redressal Commission. It said that the deficiency was not intentional, however, the subscriber couldn’t avail the roaming facility in spite of the service as he had travelled in no-network or difficult terrain areas.

Observing that Idea had no network in Tamil Nadu, the Commission pointed out that the company should have conveyed to the subscriber that he might not receive calls when travelling in no-network areas. It held that not informing the consumer about the non-availability of service amounts to deficiency in service. The Commission also faulted the company for not responding to the legal notices.

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