India Broadband Forum

lakerland

Check this out, i just renewed my 384Kbps INFINITY Connection, which my the name itself is obvious is unlimited plan. Then i get a call about an hour ago today from tata indicom which goes something like this

Tata - Sir, you have already used more than 85% of your accout. Would you like to upgrade your account to a 584 Kbps Unlimited.

Me - I don't understand, i have an unlimited plan.

T - Yes, sir but now there is a new rule in effect inscribed by the TRAI, which states that 384 Kbps has a 7.5 Gb Limit Cap.

Me - Do you understand what INFINITY means?

T - Yes Sir, I am sorry for the inconvenience. Would you like an upgrade.

Me - I would like to speak to someone about this please.

T - Yes, Can you hold, Sir?

Me - Yes.

Someone Else - ......same story she said....

Me - I dont understand how can this be applicable to the prepaid users. I have already paid the amount upfront and now at the end of this month, my account is all used up.. You do understand how unfair this is.

SE - Yes, Sir, I am sorry for the problems caused, Now would you like an upgrade or you could use the rest of your account more carefully.

Me - But how can you just tell an existing user. A prepaid user. I have paid around 6000 rupees for a month for an 384 kbps for a month...for a month...you understand?

SE - YEs, Sir, i am sorry.but this is applicable to all broadband user not just in tata but also in airtel, reliance. Would you like an upgrade

Me - No, Thank you.

SE - Thank you, Have a nice day

WTF, has anyone received a similar call.
Whats the legal course that can be pursued?
Thankyou.

smoothvibes

yes i got the same call today in morning
for more details about the same you may like to check this thread http://www.indiabroadband.net/tata-w...ge-policy.html (Tata Wimax Fair Usage Policy)

panchabhut

Should have asked for the TRAI circular No.
Now they are trying to being in TRAI to justify the disgusting FUP.

Better change to BSNL/MTNL.
And if u can not, at least to Reliance BB+. At least u would pay only 1000 instead of 6000 and their FUP is 10 GB instead of 7.5 GB.

kirankumargb

ya even i have heard, my friends have private BB ie tata & reliance. They are also having the same problem ... we used to play Multiplayer games for hours... but now due to FUP nothing...! they are changing to BSNL now...

sumantagogoi

i didn't know it was 6000 for 384kbps. i pay that much for 6 months in 1 go in bangalore. which makes it worse because if the will really terminate the connection as they say then i wont get connection for the months that i have paid for... tata sucks... howver reliance has said in a press release that their unlimted connections will continue to be unlimited. i think it makes sense to switch after term with tata finishes. also the limit is 70 gb and i have already crossed it.. how can u not cross 70 gb at 384 kbps wich gives u 384 up and 384 down speed.

nivin

Me too from same plan, Prepaid
But According to tata FUP, for 384 infinity Usage limit is 70,000 MB means 68.GB (never be 7.5 GB)

Look at this
http://www.indiabroadband.net/tata-w...ge-policy.html (Tata Wimax Fair Usage Policy)

tusharch

I applied for a new Tata BB wired conn. recently and had enquired with them about FUP.

For prepaid plans, its only appilcable to UNLIMITED plans. Time based plans do not fall under FUP, although theoretically u can download much more data @ 4 Mbps if u activate Night unlimited on time based plans.

Normally, FUP is not explicitly mentioned to consumers as its applicable to only POWER USERS, & they constitute less than 15% of the total subscriber base.

Going by conusmer mentality, if they mention about FUP right in the begining, they may end up scaring away a potential "normal" customer, who may change his decision thinking that unlimited not truly unlimited. They may also loose their cusotmers to other ISP's who do not explicitly mention about FUP.

The fact that such power users are less than 10-15% , they probably (or perhaps purposely?) are not very particular about explicitly informing the customer about FUP, as the customer may probably never be a subject of FUP statisically .

Last but not the least, it must be also noted that most of the indian consumers probaly do not fare well on the "Geek Meter" - technical know how, so ISP's take advantage of it but writing such imp. terms and conditions only in fine print.

An exception to this is AIRTEL, they have mentioned about FUP very prominnently on their Traiff plans.

Tachyon

I don't understand how Tata can still call these plans "Unlimited" anymore. It's a blatant attempt at misleading the customer. Look at all those "unlimited" connection advertisements put out by Tata. We could easily take the case to a consumer court on this basis.