Several broadband customers of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) are shocked to receive the monthly bill for additional amount towards value-added service (VAS) which they never consented to link to their services.
Angered over being made to pay for unsolicited value added services, complainants are clogging the redressal cell of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited(BSNL) with requests for deactivation of the VAS features.
V.Aghoram, Priyadharshini Nagar of Gorimedu, retired general manager of Canara Bank, is one of the many BSNL customers who have had a bitter experience with his broadband connection.
He said, “One day somebody called me over phone and explained on Hungama movies and Hungama music facility. I only replied that I would respond letter. I had never requested for Hungama movies and Hungama music facility and have not used them also.
Without my consent, the value added services were linked to the BSNL Broad band connection. To my shock, I received bill for Rs.347 for Hungama services.
The customer says he has lodged a complaint with BSNL authorities. “If they do not respond, I will take up the matter with consumer forum.”
N.Hariharan, a resident of Krishna Nagar too had similar experience with BSNL services. He was shocked over receiving the bill for the value added services linked to broad band service without his consent. “I never asked for such Hungama services. Without my consent, the service was activated on my broadband. I received bill for Rs.347 extra for VAS over and above the regular monthly bill.”
District Consumer Forum A. Ashokan has also lodged a complaint stating the Hungama services were linked without consent. Stating that the linking Hungama services without customers’ consent is untrade practice, he also sought deactivation of the VAS.
Some customers claim that even after making requests for deactivating these unsolicited VAS features, the services continue to be offered and billed.
A top official in BSNL admitted that the organisation has received scores of complaints but also claimed of late they had come down. He added that there was no provision for refunding.
“Whoever comes forward to lodge complaint, we are adjusting the amount in the next month bill after verifying their claims.”
Another official added that in some cases after receiving complaints, we placed requests on the website to discontinue the service.
