The Paining of Complaining…

As long as things go smoothly, our system works. But let there be a problem and one is up against the most people-unfriendly scenario possible.

Our mobile bill (my mobile phone is an add-on to KM’s) was vastly over what’s normal, and we have given complaints twice, and both complaints have been registered on the Airtel site.

Now every day, several times, honey-voiced "customer care executives" call up on either phone, asking why we have not paid the bill. Increasingly, we are irritated by having to repeat our complaint, which the Airtel people say is not showing up on their system, so "could you tell us the problem, please?"

Yesterday I finally told one operator that I had no intention of wasting my time repeating the details of how we have been overcharged, to every Tom, Dick, and Harini who calls. If our complaint, which is registered, is not showing up on their system, that’s their problem, too, not ours. I asked her to set right the overcharging and call me back.

Silence so far.

But…I don’t want our mobile phones to be cut off, so today I will probably have to go and stand in a loooong queue at the Airtel office and meet someone and reiterate my woes all over again….

Most mobile service providers, I have seen, first canvas actively to get as many customers as they can, then the network gets saturated, and then the level of service drops sharply….rather a metaphor for what we are doing to our city, too!

🙁

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Similar Story

Bengaluru’s APR-Ecoworld underlines the stark divide in our developing cities

Photo essay depicting the socio-economic divide inherent in developments like Adarsh Palm Retreat and Brookfield Ecoworld in the IT Corridor.

Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India, is home to a number of technology parks. Amongst the largest is Brookfield Ecoworld, located in Bellandur where employees from across the city work. Adarsh Palm Retreat (APR), meanwhile, is a fancy apartment and villa complex located adjacent to this tech park’s entrance. APR and Ecoworld are typical examples of the nexus that developed between office/commercial complexes and upscale housing for white collar workers during the Information Technology (IT) revolution in the city. It addressed a definite need among select sections of the population, but a closer look reveals the clear divide and inequities…

Similar Story

Implement existing rules to save Mumbai: NAGAR appeal to candidates

Pollution control, conservation and augmentation of open spaces will be key to Mumbai's quality of life, says NAGAR's election appeal.

Mumbai is one of the most densely populated cities in the world and faces many challenges - from shrinking open spaces, rising pollution to serious climate change impact as a coastal city. We, at NAGAR, (NGO Alliance For Governance Advocacy Renewal), have been advocating and championing the cause of open spaces in Mumbai to ensure a better quality of life for all citizens for over two decades.  As assembly elections approach us, we would like to draw the attention of voters and candidates towards some of the pressing issues that need to be addressed urgently.  We hope that when the…