The Bharat Sanchar Nigam ltd (BSNl) fooled the customers this Diwali. It did not provide any benefit under ‘power plus’ schemes for calls and similar concession scheme for sending SMSs during the festive occasion, particularly on the day of Dhanteras and Diwali.
This was done by the Government firm even as it did not inform the users.
A few mobile companies didn’t provide the call benefits under power plus scheme to the customers during Diwali. Those who didn’t extend the benefit, of course, informed their customers earlier. But the BSNl neither gave any prior information nor provided the benefit of the scheme in force.
The result being those who made calls on these days had to pay extra cost without their knowledge. Those who also sent greetings SMSes on Diwali and Dhanteras had to spend Rs 1.50 and Rs 2.40 against one and 10 paise, respectively. Call prices were also exorbitantly high.
Hence, customers who were not aware of the change in the scheme due to the festive occasion had to pay extra but unknowingly.
“This is total injustice to the customers and an example of unfair trade practice,” reacted Arati Behera, a BSNl user.
“I have no objection if BSNl cuts the concession on the festive days. But it must inform the customers so that they will make calls or send SMS accordingly,” she suggested.
When none of the officials of BSNl here wanted to give any comment on this, one on the condition of anonymity admitted that it was an injustice to the customers. “If Idea or other companies can inform, why not BSNl,” he asked.