According to the telecom regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) service providers including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL) are the top violators of tariff norms during 2012-13.
As per the TRAI data, users have registered highest numbers of complaints against Bharti Airtel during the period under review. The regulator has received 745 complaints against Bharti Airtel relating to overcharging of tariff during 2012-13. Other operators like Vodafone India, Reliance Communications and TTSL have 505, 329 and 345 complaints registered against them. Further, TRAI received 122, 36 and 194 complaints against Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited and Idea Cellular, respectively. Other operators accounted for another 143 complaints during 2012-13.
Sharing the details of complaints registered against operators by TRAI, Milind Deora, Minister of Communications and IT informed Rajya Sabha that the individual consumer complaints received in TRAI are forwarded to the concerned service provider for redressal. Deora stated that as per the existing tariff framework, tariff for telecommunication access services is under forbearance except national roaming and rural fixed line services.
Further, the telecom service providers have the flexibility to determine different charging components and the pulse rate applicable depending on the market conditions and other commercial considerations. As per this flexibility, operators have specified different duration as pulse rate for charging in terms of seconds and minutes.
Though, TRAI Act, 1997 does not envisage handling of individual consumer complaints by TRAI. However, according to Deora, TRAI has been receiving complaints from consumers relating to unsatisfactory resolution of their complaints.
