Know Yout Telecom Rights

Consumers International launches
agenda for fair mobile services
Are you irritated by unsolicited calls
from telemarketers? Has a caller
tune been activated on your mobile
phone without your consent? Are
you not satisfied with your telecom
service provider’s customer care?
Consumers International, the world
federation of consumer rights
groups, has launched a new
consumer agenda for fair mobile
services that sets right issues
affecting phone users, which
includes the need for reliable
service, data security, fair contracts
and transparent billing. It was
launched to mark World Consumer
Rights Day, the theme being ‘Fix
Your Phone Rights’.
Sibichen K. Mathew, Adviser and
Regional Head (Karnataka and
Kerala), Telecom Regulatory Authority
of India (TRAI), termed unsolicited
commercial calls and SMSs as the
“biggest nuisance” faced by
consumers.
An official of TRAI said subscribers
were given the option of blocking
calls and messages by registering
with the National Customer
Preference Register. But very few
make of this facility. Many customers
complained of being billed for caller
tunes not subscribed by them. “Even
if the customer has activated value-
added services like caller tunes, it is
mandatory for the service provider to
seek a second confirmation,” the
official said.
A toll-free number, 155223, has been
assigned to deactivate value-added
services through SMS and Interactive
Voice Response System. Consumers
can send <STOP> to 155223 from
their mobile phones.
Users can also receive a list of all
value-added services activated on
their mobiles by sending a blank
SMS to 155223. Few customers are
aware about the existence of an
Appellate Authority for each service
provider. The name, contact number,
postal address and e-mail address of
the Appellate Authority are provided
on the website of all telecom
companies, the official said.
For More Chandrashekhar poddar