MTNL’s new scheme fails to impress subscribers

MUMBAI, MAY 15: When it comes to billing, the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) is quick to assume that there are no Low Calling S...

MUMBAI, MAY 15: When it comes to billing, the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) is quick to assume that there are no Low Calling Subscribers in the city. Or perhaps it is another example of its ineptness in dealing with the revised tariff system introduced from May 1, 1999. For, much to the dismay of lakhs of telephone subscribers, MTNL has charged them a new rent of Rs 500 this month.

The catch is that as per the new tariff scheme, if a subscriber makes more than 400 calls in two months (over 200 calls per month) then the new rental would be Rs 500 bi-monthly, otherwise the old amount of Rs 380 would continue to apply. This is in case of non-Own Your Telephone (OYT) category. Even in case of OYT subscribers who have paid a substantial amount of up to Rs 15,000 to get a phone connection, the new bi-monthly rents would go up to Rs 500 if calls made exceed 400. At present, the rent for the OYT category is Rs 260 for two months. MTNL sources in the West-I zone say that they were inundated with callsfrom agitated subscribers yesterday after they received this month’s bill.

MTNL collects the rentals two months in advance and the May bills include rentals for the months of June and July.“On what grounds does MTNL think that I will make over 200 calls per month,” asks Ritu Dixit, a subscriber from Malad angrily. The West-II zone office of MTNL received around 250 complaints regarding the increased rentals on Friday alone.

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But MTNL has promised to adjust the difference in billing amount the next time. A MTNL spokesperson informed that they have already placed an advertisement in newspapers alerting customers about the uniform billing. He added that any difference in the bill would be adjusted in the subsequent bill. But his statement hardly assuages the fear and anger felt by consumers. “Going by past experience with the MTNL’s billing department, I have my doubts of how prompt it will be in subtracting the amount later,” says Arun Kamath from Goregaon.

Meanwhile, MTNL has not yet made it clear tothe public that only those Public Call Office (PCOs) which are manned by handicapped persons will be allowed to charge Rs 1.20 per public call. Any other PCO can charge only Rs 1 per call.