We were in Mumbai in March 07, and bought 3 prepaid so-called lifetime cards. After 2 days, the outgoing calls were impossible to make. We had tom call endlessly the support center until someone told us that we did not provide the ID pictures and documents - which was of course not the truth.

We went to the Airtel office in Mumbai and were VERY rudely treated by the people there - except Jaswinder, who tried to help us to sort out the problem. A customer filmed with his phone the way we were yelled at by Airtel people (please get in touch with us if you read this).

They kept saying that we didn't provided the required document, and that it will take 24 hours to re-activate our phone numbers. This is a known scam, to expect from tourists to give up instead of staying in a shop for complaining.
So we decided to go to the Colaba Police Station, where we received a very efficient help - a policeman came with us to the Airtel shop, and warned them that if nothing is solved before the end of the day he would take legal actions. Our prepaid cards were operational at 6pm. Thumbs up for the Indian Police, they really support the tourists being harassed by dishonest people.

How many tourists gave up the case, and flied back home with a very bitter feeling about India due to Airtel's behavior?

I received an recharge offer that on rc399! 180 days validity (normal90days). I had recharged my mobile on same day. But extra validity was not credited to till now. I received recharge offer sms on april 6 2007.i had called customer care for 19 times. Airtel is a cheater!

I am a active subscriber of AIRTEL-CHENNAI-INDIA for more than 3 years. Nowadays there billing system is trying to cheat customers and to pick their pockets. Since Jan 2007, I am unnecessarily charges Rs.30 per month extra as sms others. If I claim, they waive the amount, If I don't they won't.

Dear friends BEWARE OF AIRTEL. They don't respond to complaints.

I am using airtel from past 2 years, and I am sick of being disturbed by sms's and calls from airtel selling me some ring tone or the other. I am not interested in purchasing any ringtone or ANYTHING else for that matter. They invariable call when i am on duty, disturbing me, or when i am sleeping the little bit I can, their call or sms wakes me up. I cannot afford to switch off the ringtones. I had registered for the 'do not disturb' thing 1 month back, but not only has it been of no use, I am also unable to contact customer care since then. I have wasted a lot of time trying to contact them. Apart from that I had some dedicated balance towards airtel to airtel std. Since 16th May, the amount is getting deducted from my main account inspite of having the balance in my dedicated account. I have spoken with several floor supervisors, unit managers, have personally visited the Airtel Office. Everytime they promise that it will be rectified but no use. Till now they haven't done anything... They are just fooling me around. I don't know what to do... really frustrated with Airtel... can any one guide me how to sue the company.

Thanks & Regards,
Ashish.

I took lifetime validity card last month during my visit to India and since then I have faced most of the problems listed in this site. Apart automatic activation to some funny features such as ringtones, easy recharging (varies from state to state while roaming), airtel live, etc you get silly irritating SMS and POPups on the mobile that needs to be acknowledged. The network is also not good as claimed in there advertisement and when checked they say some work is being done and will be ok in few days and nothing happens this was noticed while roaming in India as well. One incident I would like highlight which is totally unacceptable, while in roaming in Bangalore I could not do easy recharge with any of there dealer hence went to there HO (head office) and to my surprise they first told me that they can not recharge as they have exhausted the topup limit. This can happen to an agent as his credit limit is reached, but to state HO is not clear? Finally after waiting for an hour they started accepting the recharge but I having purchased my SIM in Bombay was still facing the problem hence lodge complaint with the manager and lady requested me want value do you recharge in Bombay, since this was my first recharge I was not aware of the details. I said this being regional office you should have the details and was told that they do not have the details upon insisting to lodge a complaint they checked with customer care in bombay with no use. The complaint was lodged and till date have not received any call.

It is purely a cheating business as there is no transparency in the charges they collect. The customer care service is the worst this not because lack of efficient staff but I believe it is the COMPANY POLICY.