Reliance Mobile cheating subscribers?

Reliance Mobile, one of the two service providers  is reported to be luring subscribers by providing false information. Poor connectivity and less facilities in comparison to their competitors have probably forced the company to play gimmicks to promote declining sales. In the bid, Reliance has introduced a unique scheme of Golden and Diamond customers. These customers are lured into taking special numbers of their choice and once the paper work and other formalities are complete and the initial deposit of Rs 1,000 as security money for regular SIM is deposited, the marketing staff starts demanding Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000 as deposit for special numbers and claim that their Indore head office is demanding the money, as a policy of the company. Genrally, the subscriber who is cornered is forced to pay the amount. In case the subscriber cancels the contract, his signed papers are retained by the company and and another subscriber is allotted a subscription on the same name.

Such an incident came to light when a marketing agent of Reliance Mobile contacted a subscriber and promised to allot a special number for him. After getting the documents and other formalities completed, the agent returned and informed the subscriber claiming that the Indore headquarters was refusing to allot the special number and demanded Rs 3,000 for allotment of a special number. The agent claimed that even senior Congress leader Kamal Nath was forced to pay for the special number. As the subscriber declined to pay the extra fee, the agreement was cancelled and the agent refused to pay back the deposit nor did he return the signed documents deposited by the subscriber. Inside sources informed that a large number of such subscribers had witbdrawn, but new subscribers continued to get numbers on the documents. Notably, most of the senior government officials availing special numbers have not taken permission from the Government for deposits for special numbers. It is mandatory that they should receive govemment permission for depositing more than Rs 1,000 for any service. Income tax officials have said they would look into the matter and take action against those senior officials and private subscribers who have not mentioned the investment in their income tax accounts.

(CNS)