Sad News Airtel, Idea and Vodafone now requires you to recharge with a minimum pack to keep your sim alive

  • Thread starter Thread starter Zmint
  • Start date Start date
  • Replies Replies: Replies 1,001
  • Views Views: Views 207,731
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India directed operators not to immediately disconnect services of customers with “sufficient” prepaid balance as it took strong note of telecom companies asking such users to go in for mandatory monthly recharge plan.

The telecom regulator came down heavily on the operators after it received complaints from subscribers that they were being sent text messages to “mandatorily” recharge their prepaid accounts to continue to avail services.

These subscribers rued that the messages are being sent despite their prepaid accounts having “sufficient balance.”

TRAI, in its directive to operators said, “Till such time, services of such customers who have balance in prepaid accounts equal to minimum recharge amount, should not be discontinued.”

Source: TRAI Asks Operators Not To Snap Services Of Customers With Enough Balance
 
Last edited:
All Vodafone Prepaid users may now dial *199# and their Outgoing Validity will be displayed. Also, due to the intervention of TRAI, looks like these telcos are now going soft.

My Outgoing Validity was 29/11/2018. When I check today, it shows 01/12/2018.
Maybe this is because TRAI told all telcos to inform all subscribers in a transparent manner in the "next 72 hours".

Anyone else observed their Outgoing Validity being increased?
 
TJ_DJ said:
All Vodafone Prepaid users may now dial *199# and their Outgoing Validity will be displayed. Also, due to the intervention of TRAI, looks like these telcos are now going soft.

My Outgoing Validity was 29/11/2018. When I check today, it shows 01/12/2018.
Maybe this is because TRAI told all telcos to inform all subscribers in a transparent manner in the "next 72 hours".

Anyone else observed their Outgoing Validity being increased?
Click to expand...
can u post for other operators also...
 
Elvin Paul said:
Just now called Idea CC and came to know that the validity can be extended by recharging with any amount which has a validity. For me Idea gives 500 MB data for Rs.28 with a validity of 28 days and if I recharge with Rs.28 the outgoing validity will be extended for 28 days.
Click to expand...
Have you tried that?
 
I don't understand why people are angry with AVoId ? Like Jio they also need money to operate. People began using Jio as primary and recharged combo packs keeping airtel/VodaIdea for almost free for incoming/backup so they are demanding at least 35 rupees per month if not recharged with unlimited/Combo packs.

But it is Jio who started this trend silently by forcing even a basic user to pay minimum Rs. 98 ( Rs. 49 for Jiophone users) per month. But as always, Ambanis know the trick to fool Indians and still take their money to become Richest of the rich. They started off with free service for few months and then introduced combo packs with bundled voice, SMS and data but with the gimmick called "free unlimited calls" But FREE means I make no balance recharge/no combo pack and then still avail Incoming/Outgoing right ? People are still in their old dreams of Jio offering things for free and worried when other operators (except BSNL Mobile) are asking for just 33% of what Jio charges for the lowest monthly recharge (Rs. 98)

But what if I don't need to use data or make too many calls ? I have to still pay at least 98 rupees to Jio per month (Rs. 49 for JioPhone) !

And frankly speaking about my personal experience, I used to love Jio for the 1st year or so but right now, when Combo packs cost same for Jio/Airtel, I have shifted my main connection to Airtel since Jio gives me mostly 1-5 Mbps, rarely upto 10 Mbps (that too, using 3 CarrierAggregation) while Airtel gives me 15-75 Mbps (with 3CA, upto 10-30 Mbps with 1 Carrier). But Jio is still better in coverage though but plagued with call issues/ net speed issues. If you do a survey across India, people across all regions will say this : Jio is no more the best in speed but it definitely has the best network coverage.

Meanwhile AVoId have screwed up validity issue by issuing circulars for monthly minimum recharge yet showing different long validities for different users (my 3-4 SIMs in family are showing validity ranging between Jan 2019 to Dec 2021 )

For those who are too worried, BSNL Mobile is the only solution now for low maintenance cost per month but mind you even for that you need to recharge validity vouchers of 6/12 months at least and the least 6months voucher costs around 30-36 rupees meaning expenditure of at least 5-6 rupees on average per month for incoming only. For Outgoing, you have to spend as per usage using Main Balance + STV unless you are using a Combo Unlimited pack.

For immediate relief, TRAI's step is welcome but TRAI and AVoId must come forward and bring clarity on this new move through extensive ads, newspaper notifications to avoid panic amongst users and at the same time to stop people from being fooled by 3x looter Jio who is easily enjoying repute by making gimmicks while taking 49-98 rupees per month from every subscriber !
 
Last edited:
AM_digtalTV said:
I don't understand why people are angry with AVoId ? Like Jio they also need money to operate. People began using Jio as primary and recharged combo packs keeping airtel/VodaIdea for almost free for incoming/backup so they are demanding at least 35 rupees per month if not recharged with unlimited/Combo packs.

But it is Jio who started this trend silently by forcing even a basic user to pay minimum Rs. 98 ( Rs. 49 for Jiophone users) per month. But as always, Ambanis know the trick to fool Indians and still take their money to become Richest of the rich. They started off with free service for few months and then introduced combo packs with bundled voice, SMS and data but with the gimmick called "free unlimited calls" But FREE means I make no balance recharge/no combo pack and then still avail Incoming/Outgoing right ? People are still in their old dreams of Jio offering things for free and worried when other operators (except BSNL Mobile) are asking for just 33% of what Jio charges for the lowest monthly recharge (Rs. 98)

But what if I don't need to use data or make too many calls ? I have to still pay at least 98 rupees to Jio per month (Rs. 49 for JioPhone) !

And frankly speaking about my personal experience, I used to love Jio for the 1st year or so but right now, when Combo packs cost same for Jio/Airtel, I have shifted my main connection to Airtel since Jio gives me mostly 1-5 Mbps, rarely upto 10 Mbps (that too, using 3 CarrierAggregation) while Airtel gives me 15-75 Mbps (with 3CA, upto 10-30 Mbps with 1 Carrier). But Jio is still better in coverage though but plagued with call issues/ net speed issues. If you do a survey across India, people across all regions will say this : Jio is no more the best in speed but it definitely has the best network coverage.

Meanwhile AVoId have screwed up validity issue by issuing circulars for monthly minimum recharge yet showing different long validities for different users (my 3-4 SIMs in family are showing validity ranging between Jan 2019 to Dec 2021 )

For those who are too worried, BSNL Mobile is the only solution now for low maintenance cost per month but mind you even for that you need to recharge validity vouchers of 6/12 months at least and the least 6months voucher costs around 30-36 rupees meaning expenditure of at least 5-6 rupees on average per month for incoming only. For Outgoing, you have to spend as per usage using Main Balance + STV unless you are using a Combo Unlimited pack.

For immediate relief, TRAI's step is welcome but TRAI and AVoId must come forward and bring clarity on this new move through extensive ads, newspaper notifications to avoid panic amongst users and at the same time to stop people from being fooled by 3x looter Jio who is easily enjoying repute by making gimmicks while taking 49-98 rupees per month from every subscriber !
Click to expand...
I know I missed reading this earlier, but when did Jio start making Rs 98 recharge (minimum) mandatory fo reach month? If I dont recharge Jio after current valid plan expires, I wont get even incoming calls?
 
TJ_DJ said:
I know I missed reading this earlier, but when did Jio start making Rs 98 recharge (minimum) mandatory fo reach month? If I dont recharge Jio after current valid plan expires, I wont get even incoming calls?
Click to expand...
Yes
 
652 More Posts...
Back
Top Bottom