If you know the answer, please do leave me a comment about how to set it up. But, believe me when I say- Airtel have no clue about it themselves.
Originally, not an Airtel customer and frustrated with Idea’s hold-on-call that lasted for a good 10-15 minutes everytime I called them, I thought of doing my first MNP(Mobile Number Portability) to Airtel.
I had a good history with Airtel and was very impressed by their QoS- a term that doesn’t exist in their dictionary now.
My request was as simple as activating voicemail. Who wants to get a call from office at 4 am when he/she has reached home at 2 am? Yes, unfortunately, that was my poor story way back in March. But again, what if something got messed up terribly? I needed a workaround and thus subscribed to Rs. 20/- a month SMP(Smart Mail Plus). Thus began my frustration.
Trust me when I say that I have followed the correct escalation matrix :-
a) Call to Airtel Customer Care (121) at 50p for 3 minutes. Roughly about 2 hour
b) Talk with floor supervisors. Roughly about ½ hr@50p per 3 minutes.
c) E-Mail to customer care: 121@in.airtel.com. Roughly about 6 times.
d) Escalation e-mail to South Nodal team. Once
e) Visiting the nearest Airtel Store. They know just one thing- Dial 121 from the store.
Finally
f) Threatening to disconnect call and go for an alternative service provider. 3 times.
Its utterly unbelievable folks but they’d rather lose a customer than take a sincere effort to resolve the issue. They have stopped replying to my e-mails or calling me now to take the issue to resolution.
In a nutshell, it’s been a frustrating experience. I am going for a MNP again tomorrow, not for a VMS (now that I have changed my job & it’s not required) but only as a way of peaceful protest against a now sub-standard bunch of so called technical & customer service executives of Bharti Airtel.
Sunil Mittal is a rich guy. He would not mind losing a customer who paid Rs. 1422.33 as a “parting gift” to the company. That is just Rs. 17067.96 a year…
But, remember Airtel- HFZ hai !
UPDATE
For you reference, Smart Mail Plus procedure is as follows:
Now MNP Port in customers can use smart mail service on 52555. Customer to dial USSD Short Code *321*671# for activation.
Activate:
Call 52668 (toll free) to activate or deactivate
Charges:
Monthly rental of Rs 15/- for existing customers. Rs.20/- for new activationRetrieving 75ps, Call 52667 (for settings) @ Rs 3/min
Features:
- Call gets diverted to Voicemail(VM) under the following conditions
When the customer is out of reach
When Mobile is Switched Off
If unreachable
- Smart mail working condition when in roaming
In not reachable mode
Switched Off mode
- Get Missed Call Information(MCI) thru sms under the above conditions:
- All VM notifications or Missed call Information notifications will include mobile number and time.
- Retrieval of all VM on IVR 52666 or retrieval of a particular number VM on IVR 52666** (specified in sms).
- Retrieval of messages while in Roaming or even from a local Landline
Retrieval:
- Call 52666(75ps) for retrieval of all VMs or 52666** as specified in the sms for a particular voicemail
- For Landline retrieval call 9945501491, enter mobile number and password* to access VMs
- Customer can retrieve while roaming by calling ten digit number 9945501491(roaming rates) after password* verification.
For Settings:
- Call 52667(Rs3/min)
- Set your Password
- Record your personalized message or select a pre-recorded message
- Set messages as default message, Person specific message or Alternate message(define time period)
I couldn't agree more. But my disgruntle is with the Airtel Fixed Line/Broadband folks. I've finally disconnected the line and will be applying for a BSNL one. If I'm going to get the same kind of apathetic service towards customers from airtel, then why not BSNL? I mean, what's the difference anyway? :)
ReplyDeleteBSNL is pretty good in its service, I should say. And it holds good for address proof for lots of official purposes including marriage :-)
ReplyDeleteYeah I have given the documents. Apparently will take about 10 more days before it gets activated.
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ReplyDeleteI had the exact problem with Voice Mail... still no resolution! After 3 years of chasing them!
ReplyDeleteI planned to take Airtel but after reading these review I won't. Will pass this message to as many as possible.
ReplyDeleteVery true guys. Airtel give a damn to its customers. Lets pass on this message to as manu as possible... let every onr know the true colour of this airy brand
ReplyDeleteI had activated voicemail. It was working fine and suddenly it stopped working. Now whenever I try to activate it states service is activated. Ideally it should state "service is activated but not functioning :-)"
ReplyDeleteThe issue is not with the dongle or speeds; its actually the place from where you are trying to access their network. There must be proper network coverage for the device to provide you with good speed. I thankfully opted for 4G LTE demo before buying in. During demo itself it did not pass 2g speeds. So i opted otherwise. It also depends upon your usage of dongle. If you do not move a lot between places, broadband connection would serve you better. Having said this: I do understand your frustration about your billed value which exceeds the credit limit and no answer from consumer court, when they are supposed to resolve these cases quickly.
ReplyDeleteconsidering your hardware device is not defunct, it must be your place of residence which is not covered by their high speed wireless network. Otherwise, i have seen it work pretty good at places. Moreover, it depends on ones usage; if not moving between places, broadband is a better option. Thankfully I asked for a demo before option for one and since it did not even pass 2g speeds I did not go through with it. The story is similar with the other operators as well. Beginning of this year, I took MTS and it turned out nightmarish for me. I would advise ppl to ask for demo of the device at a place where they are gonna use it for most of the time and then choose based on results.
ReplyDeleteThe issue is not with the dongle or speeds; its actually the place from where you are trying to access their network. There must be proper network coverage for the device to provide you with good speed. I thankfully opted for 4G LTE demo before buying in. During demo itself it did not pass 2g speeds. So i opted otherwise. It also depends upon your usage of dongle. If you do not move a lot between places, broadband connection would serve you better. Having said this: I do understand your frustration about your billed value which exceeds the credit limit and no answer from consumer court, when they are supposed to resolve these cases quickly.
ReplyDeleteFor those who has issues with internet connection, I strongly suggest you people to choose TIKONA. Am using it for almost 3 years and its really good(including customer care).
ReplyDeleteFor those who has issues with internet, just drop whatever you guys are using(Dont pay the bill and keep all proofs ready) and go for tikona. Am using it for almost 3.5 years and its really good(including Customer care). Am just paying 785/month and getting 2.2 mbps for the entire month(till 6gb download) and almost 600kbps(they say 512kbps) after crossing 6gb download limit.
ReplyDelete