Ramanisblog

Tag: Airtel

  • Book Train Tickets On Mobile Procedure No Intenet

    Book Train Tickets form Mobile.
    Book Train Tickets form Mobile.

    IRCTC, Indian Railways have introduced a Mobile Phone based Railway Ticket Booking Facility.

    Now one can book Train Tickets from their Mobiles .

    The Procedure:

    What is IRCTCmobile?

    IRCTCmobile is a unique secure transaction solution residing on your mobile phone, which allows you to book railway tickets from anywhere and anytime. The IRCTCmobile has an attractive and user-friendly interface to facilitate easy navigation and has capability to book tickets in real time and store tickets details, making it an ideal ticketing solution.

    How does the railway ticketing through IRCTCmobile work?

    Once you enter your mobile number in the IRCTC web page, you will be automatically registered, post which you can download and install IRCTCmobile on your java-enabled mobile phone. You can start booking railway tickets through your IRCTCmobile and pay through the credit card/ cash card.

    What are the pre-requisites for using the IRCTCmobile?

    The pre-requisites for using the IRCTCmobile are:

    • You need to be a IRCTC user
    • Have a Java enabled mobile phone or a smart phone
    • Have GPRS service activated on your mobile phone
    • Have a credit card/cash card.

    Note: This service is not available for CDMA mobile users

    How do I know if my mobile is Java enabled?

    To check if your phone is Java enabled:

    Refer to your phone book manual, or

    Refer to the phone manufacturer’s website.

    Note: If you can download games through your mobile phone, it indicates that your mobile is java enabled.

    Where do I check my phone’s model number?

    The model number is generally printed inside the phone where the battery is placed. The same could also be found in the user manual provided along with the phone. Some mobiles provide options to display the model number.

    What is GPRS?

    GPRS stands for General Packet Radio Service. It is an enhancement to the GSM mobile communications system, which allows internet browsing on a mobile phone as well as connecting to data services.

    How do I get GPRS service?

    Please call your mobile operator and subscribe to a GPRS connection.

    What are the charges for GPRS service?

    Please contact your mobile operator.

    How quickly can I get my GPRS service activated?

    Please contact your mobile operator.

    Mobile operator offers multiple GPRS plans. Which one should I subscribe to use IRCTCmobile?

    Railway ticketing through IRCTCmobile will work on all the GPRS plans of various mobile operators.

    Details.

    Railway e-ticket now on mobile
    • IRCTC introduces for the first time a non-internet based ticketing system that will empower masses even in remote areas to use the omnipresent mobile device to make reservations.
    • Millions of rail travellers can now use their mobile phones to book tickets in a simple, convenient and secured manner.
    • It uses simple SMS or menu-based USSD technology which works on all mobile phones and involves no internet and costs very little.
    • The services can be currently availed by IRCTC registered users only.
    Advantages of booking IRCTC tickets via mobile
    • No need to stand in long queues or log onto the internet.
    • Simple, reliable and secured.
    • Accessible to any mobile user.
    • Very little charges for accessing the service.
    • Works on all handsets.
    • Simple user guided menu – book tickets, search for stations, trains, availability.
    1. USSD based booking through Airtel*
    Registration
    • Register for Airtel money by dialing USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Services Data) number *400#.
    • Load cash on this or recharge from any Airtel money outlet.
    Booking Flow
    • Dial *400# and select book tickets option.
    • Select Reservation.
    • Enter your IRCTC User ID.
    • Enter the details of ticket (station, train no. date of journey, class etc.).
    • Enter mPIN for authorizing payment through Airtel money.
    • Booking confirmation SMS is sent by IRCTC and same can be used during journey along with valid ID proof..
    • Fare & service charges are debited from your Airtel money account.
    • PG Charges: Currently NIL
    • Agent Service Charges: Currently NIL
    • Helpline No.: 121
    • Helpline Email : 121@airtelmoney.in
    2. SMS based booking through 139*
    Registration
    • Register your mobile number with IRCTC as well as with your bank.
    • Bank provides MMID (Mobile Money Identifier) & OTP (One Time Password) through IMPS (Immediate Payment Service) option.
    • More than 25 banks are providing IMPS facility. For generating MMID & OTP, visit website:http://www.npci.org.in/impsmerpay10.aspx.)
    Booking Flow
    • Generate OTP through your Bank for authorization of payment.
    • Send SMS, in the following syntax, to 139 BOOK <TrainNo><FromStn.Code><ToStn.Code> <TravelDate (DDMM)><Age><M/F>
    • You will receive Transaction ID alongwith other details.
    • Make payment through sending an SMS, in the following syntax, to 139 PAY MMID as received from the bank><otp, your=”” one=”” time=”” password=”” as=”” received=”” from=”” the=”” bank=”” for=”” this=”” transaction=””> and your ticket is booked; confirmation SMS is received on your mobile and same can be used during journey along with valid ID proof.
    • Service is available to all mobile subscribers.
    • SMSes @ Rs 3/- per SMS (2 SMSes are required for each booking).
    • PG charges Rs 5/- for ticket amount < Rs 5000/ and Rs 10/- for ticket amount >= Rs 5000/- (as applicable by bank).
    • Agent Service Charges: NIL
    • Helpline No.: 139
    • Helpline Email : smsticket139@bharatbpo.in
    3. SMS based booking through 5676714*

    Registration

    • Register your mobile number with IRCTC as well as with m-wallet (http://www.zipcash.in/user/nlogin.aspx)
    • Send SMS, to 5676714, in the following syntax START < irctc user Id > for user authentication (first time only)

    Booking Flow

    • Send an SMS to 5676714 to book a ticket in the following syntax: BOOK ,, , ,,,,
    • 1. “PAY , MPAY, < m-PIN >” for authorizing payment through MPAY

    OR

    • 2. “Send <mobileno>,<mmid>,<amount>, <transaction Id>,<OTP>” to your Bank IMPS number.
    • After payment is made booking confirmation is sent to your mobile.
    • SMSes @ Rs 3/- per SMS (2 SMSes are required for each booking).
    • PG Charges: Currently NIL
    • Agent Service Charges: As applicable.
    • Helpline No. : 8882001001
    • Helpline Email : support@saarthii.com
    4. SMS based booking through BSNL*

    User should have the following:

    • 1. BSNL SIM card installed.
    • 2. Java enabled mobile phone.
    • 3. Andhra Bank Prepaid card.
    • This is a menu driven application where user has to enter the details asked for in simple step-by-step process to get the ticket.

    Registration

    • Install the application.
    • Select the Register option to get the mPIN.

    Booking

    • Click the icon BSNL Prepaid Card
    • Select Ticketing > Train (IRCTC)
    • Fill up the journey details such as From stn, To Stn, Train No, DOJ, Class, Quota, passenger details.
    • Enter the mPIN to get the ticket information.
    • SMSes: without charges.
    • PG Charges: Currently NIL
    • Agent Service Charges: As applicable.
    • Helpline No. : 040-39849644
    • Helpline Email : bsnl.support@pyrogroup.com
    E-ticketing through IRCTC website, www.irctc.co.in, has revolutionized the way the common man deals with the railways and has been the biggest success story of e-governance in India. Taking this further, keeping an eye on growing mobile phone market in India, IRCTC now launched two other modes of ticket booking through SMS and USSD… and you don`t need an Internet connection in your mobile for this.

    Sources:https://www.irctc.co.in/beta_htmls/

    http://erail.in/rail/faq/irctcmobile.html

     

  • Airtel,Thugs and Your Call Records

    I had blogged on the way Airtel cheats its customers

    http://ramanisblog.in/2012/02/24/does-airtel-cheat-customers/

    I am reproducing some more complaints.

    “Airtel cheats !!!!!!

    English: Logo of Airtel
    English: Logo of Airtel (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

    sir,
    My Mobile no is 9901934737, it is prepaid; I had recharged on 21st FEB & 25th Feb of 2012 for Rs. 444/- for 4 times that is total Rs. 1776=00 but this amount has not been credited to my number, the same was complained to airtel complaint forum & their appellate forum on 28th feb 2012 but till today no action is taken; every time each new executive calls up & assures to resolve the issue within 3 days, but till today nobody has taken the initiative to resolve the issue. Each time I have to start the explanation from the beginning for every new executive who calls me, which is just frustrating; they have asked all the details like my statement & transaction ID which I have forwarded duly. Every time they acknowledge only with assurance but not resolving the same.
    I am giving the complete details of mails below for more clarity.
    I request your good self to take this on highest priority.

    Thanking You.
    Kiran M.N.

    Dear Mr. Kumar,

    Ref: e-mail dated 07/03/2012, regarding the non-receipt of online recharge benefit for your airtel mobile number 9901934737.

    Warm greetings from all of us at airtel.

    We regret for the inconvenience caused to you in this regard.

    We would like to inform you that we have registered your concern. For your reference, the unique Service Request number is CONRC3030920025100. Our respective team will contact you by 14-Mar-2012, 09:09 AM with an update.

    We request your kind co-operation until such time.

    We would like to thank you for taking out the time to voice your concern. At airtel, we believe that our customer¿s feedback is a valuable input, which helps us to improve our services and ensure that we strive towards achieving customer satisfaction.

    We hope that we have been able to assist you suitably.

    Please feel free to speak to our call center executive on 121 regarding any query/ request and 198 (Toll Free) for any complaints. You can also email us at 121@in.airtel.com.

    If it is still unresolved, you can get in touch with the Nodal Officer with your earlier request or complaint number. You may send an email atnodalofficer.kk@airtel.in or you may call at 9972534865 from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM Monday to Friday. The Nodal officer will provide a resolution to yourcomplaint in 10 days.

    If you do not receive a satisfactory response from Nodal officer you may send an email at appellate.kk@airtel.in or you may call at 9972544865 from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM Monday to Friday.

    Assuring you the best of our services.

    Warm Regards,

    Kiran K S
    Appellate Office
    Bharti AirtelLimited”

    http://www.consumercourtforum.in/f49/airtel-cheats-68925/

    “On 12-Nov-2011, I submitted 3G postpaid service cancellation request to Airtel via email. On 14-Nov-2011, Airtel Corporate Services (Ms.Dimple) contacted me and offered 50% rental discount for 3 months and requested me to stay back. Accepting their offer, I stayed back.

    But Airtel didn’t provide rental discount in December 2011 bill. I contacted them on 23-Dec-2011 for clarification. Ms.Dimple replied “50% rental discount has been updated to ur num you ll be recieving conformation message shortly”. But I didn’t receive any confirmation message. However, I paid the full bill amount thinking I can resolve this billing issue in coming days and adjust the excess amount in next bill.

    Things turned worse; Airtel didn’t provide rental discount in Jan 2012 bill too. I contacted Airtel for clarification. I didn’t get any response for my emails. I decided to cancel the connection forever. I sent the cancellation email and also demanded final bill with 50% promised rental discount applied. But airtel kept on unethically insisting me to pay the full rental. I disagreed and requested airtel to fulfil their promise. I told Airtel that I am ready to make the payment if proper bill is produced.

    Airtel threatened me through their collection agents on 28-Feb-2012. Meenakshi Bora, Solomon, and Monika are the people who contacted me and demanded immediate payment. I patiently explained all the details and request Airtel to fulfil the promise. They said they will look into this issue, but never came back with a response.

    Today Airtel has sent me legal notice asking me to appear before Lok adalat on 31-May-2012. I am going to present all the email proofs to the judge and make my point clear. Truth is at my side. So I don’t have any fear. I need to take OFF from office to attend this court proceedings. This is the price that I am getting for getting Airtel Postpaid service.

    Their irresponsible attitude is NOT appreciated. Airtel has stole my time and had given mental agony. I need Airtel to fulfil their promise and compensate me for stealing my time and giving mental agony. I have email evidence for all these communications. Airtel you have to answer the court for your irresponsible and unethical behaviors. Airtel, please Don’t cheat people for earning money.”

    http://www.zimbio.com/Mobile+Tips/articles/G9U5zHHpna0/Airtel+Cheats+bill+amount+Post+Paid+Customers

    Follow the Links above for more complaints.

    Here below is a complaint on their accessing your call records.

    “my number WAS +919972228864.  Along with this number, they provided a GPRS connection that I was informed was free for the first 700 MB during the first month and would be billed @ Rs. 0.10/10 KB from then on.  I was NOT informed by their executive that there is a plan for Rs. 99/- for 1 GB.  Not sure why he would hide this!  Not sure if anyone in the world would take-up such a plan after knowing there is a Rs. 99 one.  It was hence a clear violation for not having explained the complete offer.
    In the middle of the month, I received a message that my credit limit exceeded.  I was concerned and called-up customer care.  They said NOT to worry, it was just that my discounts and offers were not applied as on that date and that would be adjusted once the bill is generated.  They also asked me to pay some money to increase the credit limit.  I did so without knowing that my GPRS was actually metering to a huge amount.
    I received a final bill for about Rs. 6,500/- most of them being for the GPRS.  I followed-up SEVERAL times with customer care mentioning about the miscommunication.  They were ready to reduce the bill amount by Rs. 1,000 or Rs. 2,000 (not sure why they would do this if they knew for sure that the billing was right) but they were not ready to write it off.
    I told them clearly that I won’t pay the additional money because I was neither informed of a better plan available nor was I warned that I reached the ceiling.  All the more, when I called up to inquire, they said NOT to worry!
    I paid all except Rs. 2,900 and odd leaving it as money on dispute.  They are now resorting to cheap ways such as calling up my contacts and asking ‘Is the thief there?’.  I have had a miserable experience on all Airtel products viz. mobile, broadband (I got 10 GB exhausted in less than a week! and I didn’t watch a single movie!) and TV.”

    The complaints fall into the following Categories.

    1.If you can get hold(which is a rarity) of Airtel Help Line, you will not get a solution.You will be informed that ‘they will check and let you know” Well, you are never contacted again.

    2.Not divulging facts bout the Scheme Details.

    3.Unauthorized deduction of pre paid connections.

    4.Over charging Post paid Customers.

    5.Lying on Broad Band speed and over charging.

    Now Airtel has graduated into intimidating its customers and their contacts by accessing their call records ,through thugs who pose as recovery agents and use abusive language when you with hold the disputed amount.

    You would think they would send their Executives to sort out.

    No, the same chaps who were literally at your feet to get you subscribed them vanish into thin air the moment you get connected.

    If here is any dispute, the Business procedure is to send communications  and if payments are not forth coming serve a legal notice. Airtel does neither.

    Airtel accesses your call records of your disconnected mobile , calls up your contacts use abusive language .

    The idioms and the local language belong to Thugs.

    How is it that the Consumer Court is keeping quiet despite numerous complaints?

    And how is it a Mobile Service Provider can access your call records and use it for their personal use?

    How legal is it?]

    Some more complaints received

    ‘I dont know how, yesterday i recharged for 350 and today i got an sms saying , 99rs deducted for downloading “TheAvengers” dont know what this either a game or some movie.. nothing in my phone downloaded to be seen. looters of a different class.”

    I suggest those affected by Airtel may send their complaints with documentation to enable me to file a collective case in the Consumer Court”

  • Does Airtel Cheat Customers?

    Bharti Airtel Lanka
    Image via Wikipedia

     

    I had used Airtel for some time and found that they were over billing(post paid).

    I used to get reversion of the amount after quite a fight.

    Disgusted I came out.

    Contrary to what Private Companies are projecting by a Blitz of advertisements, I have found BSNL to be honest and their connectivity is very good.

    Here is a complaint of Airtel.

    ”

    The 2 G scam in India has been attracting global attention and indicates how some companies might have benefited by corruption in the licensing system . The overall value of the scam benefit was estimated at Rs 176000 crores. This benefit is deemed to have been enjoyed by the mobile companies and it is surmised that around 30% of this could have been paid out as bribes to various agencies .

    One may wonder how a commercial organization that pays out such huge sums as bribes can recover these expenses. One possibility is that they must be ripping the customers with false billing or planning to do the same in due course when they start their activities.

    Recently a case has come to the notice of public that a few executives of MTS were involved in using genuine customer applications for issuing data cards to others by switching photographs. The executives have been arrested and are being prosecuted for offences under different sections. (Read the full story here).

    In the meantime we need to also observe how honest are the companies who were not involved in the 2G licensing scam and would like to place in the public domain my own experience of Airtel who according to my considered opinion are resorting to a systematic false billing for their customers.

    I have heard of problems in over charging in prepaid accounts where the customers cannot verify the call details and duplication of calls made to frequent destination numbers so that the customer cannot identify the false calls,  just to boost up sales .

    However it appears that the fraudulent practices in the 3G billing is developing in to scam proportions and needs the attention of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) immediately.

    From my own experience, I have raised a complaint  ( complaint  resting with the Nodal Officer Bangalore with a mail acknowledged on 22nd February 2012)  with Airtel in recent days on the following counts:

    1. On a 3 G mobile account there were continuous over billing on data usage for three consecutive days. I raised an alarm and then used MNP to shift out of Airtel. Very reluctantly and after several complaints to the nodal officer the MNP port out request was accepted.

    2. I had a 3 G data card bought recently and found that it was not capable of providing 3 G speeds. I raised a complaint, asked for closure of account since number portability is not available on data cards and kept away the data card. I also raised a request for cancellation of the purchase and return of the money paid for the data card. However in the next month, Airtel billed lots of data usage and sent a bill indicating that there was false data accounting here.

    3. The fraudulent approach of Airtel was also evident in the fact that when complaint tickets were raised, there was a prompt reply that it would be attended within the next 24 hours. After that there would be a missed call from a non returnable number  which would be disconnected after a few rings. This would be followed by an e-mail that the Company has attended the complaint and they are happy to know that it had been resolved.

    I  have been confronted with this fraudulent attitude several times and every time lodged new complaints to continue the process. In similar false billing case in Airtel DTH I have pursued the complaint on several occassions and finally able to get rid of the false billing. Under DTH, Airtel has a system where without the customer’s authorization, they keep activating past top ups and send bills. They threaten to close the main account if Top Ups are not renewed. I feel all this is part of their plan to boost up billing.

    In order to confront them on the 3 G data card billing, I have demanded that Airtel submit me an expert report of data speeds available under 3G data cards in different parts of Bangalore and prove that their warranties on the 3 G data speed (Upto 7.2 MB speed) is true. I have also demanded that they submit me details of my data usage which includes the URLs visited and IP addresses allocated. I am awaiting the response.

    I have copied my complaints to TRAI also.

    Unless TRAI takes some strict action against the mobile operators regarding false billing, this will be a scam bigger than the 2G or the Nigerian Scam.

    The incident can be treated as a suspected Salami attack by a mobile service provider  on its clients and CBI can also come in suo moto to investigate.

     In the meantime, I am bringing this to public notice so that other customers of Airtel particularly in Bangalore may inform me if they have similar problems. We maybe able to take up a case with the Consumer Forum to ensure that this organized ripping of customers is put an end to. I also invite Consumer activists in Bangalore to get in touch  with me so that we can take up a public interest litigation and demand a TRAI enquiry into the billing practices of Airtel. Probably in the PIL we need to request the Court to order a CBI enquiry also.

    Naavi of naavi.org”

    http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.bloggernews.net/127798

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  • i Phone 4S Prices Airtel,Aircel.

    Advisable to wait till the Prices come down.

    different models of i phone.
    i phones,

    Both Airtel and Airel, the two mobile service providers bringing the iPhone 4S to India, have revealed the price that Indian consumers will have to pay to acquire the latest object of desire from Apple.

    Airtel and Airtel on their respective iPhone 4S pre-order pages have listed the iPhone 4S 16GB at Rs 44,500 and the 32GB model for Rs 50,900. This pricing is substantially higher than the older models of the iPhone sold by the two carriers. Airtel had priced the iPhone 4 16GB at Rs 35,500 and an 8GB iPhone 3GS was available for Rs 20,900.

    In the US the new iPhone 4S was launched at the same price as the iPhone 4.

    The 64GB iPhone 4S model is not currently listed on the Airtel pre-order page and some reports say it was priced at Rs 57500 but Airtel later removed it. The Aircel pre-order site displays the 64GB model as sold out and doesn’t mention any price.

    Airtel and Aircel are the first two Indian mobile operators to announce the iPhone 4S on their networks. The pre-orders from both the service providers were scheduled to begin on Friday. While Airtel was up with its pre-order page, Aircel was apparently facing a technical glitchm but has now started acceptiong pre-orders.

    http://ibnlive.in.com/news/airtel-aircel-reveal-iphone-4s-india-prices/203641-11.html

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  • Your cell phone company’s dirty little secret

    Cell/mobile bills are documents which,as far as I know,are yet to be understood by any body(In India at least).None of the Companies charge what they declare to charge;if you analyse carefully you tend to pay up more than your early package.In addition,they normally charge you some amount under some head and if you protest continuously they reverse the charges.
    It really beats me as to why they just can’t charge what you speak for?

    The cell companies’ billing is as complicated as Indian Petroleum companies’ price calculation.Even God can not understand!
    Story:
    NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Mobile phone companies have been lauded for slashing the cost of unlimited voice plans, but many wireless customers’ monthly bills are actually going to get a bit more expensive.
    http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/10/technology/cell_phone_bill/